Limlingan: Welcoming the NAIA

Monday, October 24, 2011

A COUPLE of years ago, I found myself in Hong Kong, a shopping mecca under the Special Administrative Region of China. I landed at the Chek Lap Kok Airport in Lantau Island. I found out later on that it was a new airport and it was not the airport that was used by thousands of Filipino domestic helpers that flocked to work at this well-developed island during the peak of hiring of domestic workers.

One reason why Hong Kong’s premier airport was transferred to its present site is to give way to the numerous inbound and outbound flights, and to decongest human and vehicular traffic within the vicinity. Comparatively speaking, Hong Kong’s traffic problem is not that worse as with our country, but being a tourism hub sometimes makes the streets there swell with vehicles and alleys with people.

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Back in the Philippines, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is studying the phase-out and possible sale of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I in order to pay for the cost of the proposed enhancement of operations of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga. Virtually, it’s a transfer of the premier international gateway from Metro Manila to Pampanga.

While there are other minor airports in the country that also cater international flights, most international travelers embark and disembark at the NAIA making the airport, named after the martyred Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., the busiest in the entire Philippine archipelago.

A gamut of airline travelers -- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), tourists and businessmen -- uses the NAIA for their travels and often, they use private vehicles when going to the airport. Most OFWs are usually sent off by their families up to the airport. On the other hand, when a family member or a close is coming home to the Philippines, Filipinos are fond of fetching them. This fact causes congestion in Metro Manila as many travelers are sent off and fetched from the airport in private vehicles.

The proposed transfer of NAIA from Metro Manila particularly from Pasay City to Pampanga will definitely decongest the country’s capital city from air and land traffic.

Those from Bulacan province and other provinces north of Metro Manila will have better land travel to Pampanga when going to the airport, rather than going to Metro Manila for their air travel.

The average capacity of the NAIA is pegged at 32 million passengers a year.

Transferring the premier airport to Pampanga would significantly decongest Metro Manila. Besides, the airport is more than 30 years old and has not experienced a major facelift since then. From its age, no wonder it was ranked first among the worst airports in the world.

I have previously written in this column why the NAIA has been included among the roster of worst airports. Many complaints (including those of mine) described the airport’s poor facilities from the filthy restrooms to poorly maintained lounges to the airport’s outmoded technical facilities used in airline travel. There are a number of incidents that proved of lax airport security and breach of safety standards among passengers.

The transfer of NAIA to Pampanga is a welcome development not only for the province but for the entire Northern Luzon comprising of Regions 1, 2 and 3. This will bring infrastructures, business ventures, tourism promotions and great ease and convenience for airline travelers.

The Clark Freeport will perhaps triple its number of locators once the transfer has been realized. Angeles City and soon-to-be Mabalacat City will surely have the biggest blessings in terms of growth and development. Neighboring towns as well shall have a piece of progress as the population of transients is expected to rise.

The more people the more the need for everything; hence the demand for supplies of anything within the commerce of man.

The transfer of the NAIA to DMIA will likewise entice prospective investors to pour in their resources at Clark. It can also be the transport hub of the country considering the amount of goods it can accommodate. The SCTEx, meanwhile, provides access to the Subic Freeport Zone and a vital link to the shipping and cargo sector.

By the way, DMIA’s runway is far better, longer and wider than that of the NAIA.

There are certain types of airplanes that cannot land or take off at the NAIA that can be accommodated by the DMIA. Fresh from our minds are United States Air Force planes hovering over Pampanga skies.

The DMIA was once the home of the US Air Force in the Far East and it used to house modern fighter jets as well as gargantuan cargo planes like the C-130s. It had modern communications and weather equipment necessary for airport operations. It had a secured perimeter fence (except for wires and cable thefts) and an ample space for hangars and other additional airport facilities.

I am sure that Clark has ample parking space for vehicles that will take care of the land transportation needs of those using the DMIA. There are duty free shops inside the Special Economic Zone that will satisfy every incoming tourist or OFWs. There are various shops, dining places and tourists’ interests as well.

Clark is a one-stop-shop for an airline traveler. There are inns and hotels inside and out of the former US Air Force base that can provide rest for the weary jetsetter.

Welcome to Pampanga, NAIA.