Using sirens to remove animals from runways ‘embarrassing’—Drilon

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

“Embarrassing,” was how Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon described on Wednesday the use of sirens in provincial airports to drive away animals from the runways.

Drilon cited for instance the airport in Naga City, the home province of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, which he said uses a siren before the arrival or departure of a plane.

“Do you know that in that airport, they would have to have a siren before the planes land? Why? Para po umalis yung mga baka or mga ibang (hayop) (So the cows and other animals would leave the runway). Oo (Yes), I heard that and I said: what is that? They said: Sir, that means that the plane is arriving,” he said during the hearing of the Senate committee on finance on the proposed budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“And I recall, maybe half a century ago in Iloilo meron din kaming ganun e (we also have that). Pero (But that was) 50 years ago na yun hanggang ngayon, Naga ganun pa rin (but Naga still uses the sirens). For a major city like Naga, with the tourism industry a major source of gross domestic contribution, why are we having this kind of airport?” he asked.

Drilon then asked aviation officials present in the hearing how many more airports have been using sirens to remove animals from the runways.

Responding to the senator’s query, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) deputy director general for administration Manuel Antonio Tamayo explained that the use of sirens in provincial airports was an “SOP.”

“As far as the CAAP-controlled airports are concerned, it’s SOP especially in the provincial airports to have a siren pagka nag-a-approach po yung aircraft o magde-depart (when the aircraft approaches or departs),” Tamayo said.

And when Drilon asked why he did not hear sirens in other provinces like Iloilo and Bacolod, the CAAP official said it was because these are international airports.

“I couldn’t accept that, provincial man or international. Nakakahiya na may sirena para alisin yung baka sa runway bago maglanding ang eroplano…Panahon pa ng Second Wold War yan ah. Ano ba yan (It’s embarrassing that sirens are used to drive away the cows from the runway before the airplane lands. It has been in existence since Second Wold War. What is happening)? Can you do something about that?” the senator asked.

“So you’re saying that in all provincial airports, we have a siren to remove the cows and the carabaos from the runway before an airplane can land? he further asked.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the problem in the Naga airport could be addressed immediately, citing the huge “unobligated” funds for the city.

For 2015, Tugade said the unreleased fund for “upgrading” only was P669 million and another P1 billion in 2016.

“Hindi ho nagamit noong mga nakaraan (The fund was not used before),” Tugade said.

Before this, Drilon also slammed as “pathetic” the number of airports with commercial flights but without night-landing flights.

Out of the 41 airports with commercial flights, Tamayo estimated that only 7 or 8 have night-landing facilities.

“Seven or 8, just how pathetic it is ha. Seven or 8 out of 41. Now you’re adding 11, which makes it roughly 15 or 16..? Drilon said.

But Tamayo later corrected himself, saying that at present, there are 15 nigh-rated airports, five others are being updated, while seven others are being proposed for night-rating also. RAM