Implement solutions to decongest airports — Lacson

The implementation of proposed solutions is what is needed in solving the problem of overcrowding in the country’s airports, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson.

“Obviously, we all know the problem. Apparently, we also know the solution. So no matter how many meetings, how many public hearings, how many presentations we have, ang solusyon lang talaga is implementation, ‘di ba?” Lacson said at the Senate joint committee hearing into airport decongestion efforts.

“But ang tanong, why are we not doing it? … Overload na tayong lahat ng statistics (and) information (at) alam nating lahat, pero what are we doing about it?“ he added.

Meanwhile, for Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate’s public services committee, the best solution at the moment is not to divert flights to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga from Manila, but the involvement of the private “super consortium” in the overhaul of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

“Puno pa rin. Magiging siksikan pa rin. Ang talagang solusyon dyan ay hindi paglipat ng terminal ng ibang airline kundi pag-expand ng Naia kaya nga yung consoritum yung gusto ko eh,” Poe told reporters in an interview.

“For me it’s very important that we have the interest of the private sector to be able to help the government. We have to admit that sometimes with the help of our private sectors we can implement projects faster, especially if investors are credible,” she added.

The “super consortium” is composed of seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates: Ayala Corp., LT Group, Filinvest, JG Summit Holdings, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Metro Pacific Investments, and Megaworld Corp.

Formed last December, the “super consortium” will bid to rehabilitate, operate and maintain the outdated and highly-congested Naia.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) Senior Vice President Fred Mison, for his part, has expressed openness to Naia’s expansion as well as the transfer of flights to Clark and the building of new airports in other parts of the country.

Mison said factors such as few runways and flight delays contribute to airport congestion.

“Hangga’t maaari we would like to leave on time dahil mas cost-efficient at mas maganda kita namin kung ang eroplano ay lilipad kaysa nakaparada sa airport,” he said.

Other common reasons for flight delays, according to Mison, are runway congestion and closures, long lines at the immigration counters, and maintenance operations.   /muf