The Clark Civil Aviation Complex is secured by a P92.84-million security fence, but entry remains unregulated and agricultural activities are still allowed inside.
The Commission on Audit (COA) noted in its 2016 audit report that there were various “lapses in security and absence of policies in the management of illegal settlers.”
Farming activities inside the 2,367-hectare complex is blamed for the increase in bird strikes to aircraft using the international airport. The COA said 674 ha, or 28.75 percent of the area, had been occupied by illegal settlers.
The lack of regulation of illegal settlers and farmers even caused activity to “grow to such extent,” which led the COA to state: “The purpose of the security fence … [is] defeated as people are still indiscriminately allowed to access the occupied lands.”
At least 146 incidents have been recorded since 2010, raising grave safety issues for what is being geared as a major gateway to Luzon. From only three and four incidents in 2010 and 2011, the number of bird strikes jumped to 32 in 2012, 29 in 2013, 15 in 2014 and 13 in 2015.
Incidents increased to a whopping 50 in 2016, coinciding with a change in administration. Most bird strikes occur during the harvest season from August to November, according to the Safety and Environmental Management Office.
“It is an accepted fact in the aviation industry that bird strikes are significant threats to flight safety and there are a number of reported accidents around the world with human casualties,” the report read.
“It causes a wide variety of problems on airport operations ranging from delayed flights to, in some extreme cases, plane crashes and lost lives.”
Security agencies were required to man every access point, inspect vehicles, prevent illegal settlers and eliminate farming activities including fruit-bearing trees.
Besides bird strikes, the COA noted the loose regulation of its entry points created security risks as unauthorized persons gain access to off-limits areas.