There will be minimal disruptions for arriving and departing domestic and international flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Ambasssador Marciano Paynor said as he expressed readiness to host the heads of government and state coming to the Philippines for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings that will be held from Nov. 10 to 14.
In a Palace news briefing, Paynor, who is the Asean National Organizing Committee Director General, said that flight activities will be concentrated at Clark International Airport in Pampanga instead of the Naia to avoid unnecessary flight disruptions at the Naia during the international event.
Paynor said the decision to maximize the use of CIA for the upcoming summit was made in order to prevent cancellation of several flights at the Naialike what happened during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015 where some 450 Naia flights were affected.
“For Apec there were 20 economic leaders who came in. There was a particular delegation whose requirement anywhere they go is one hour prior to arrival, no movement in the air and on the ground, and 30 minutes after. So that’s an hour and 30,” he said.
“So you can imagine how it was. And I recall that there was a certain mayor who was affected by these flights way back when. And the mayor expressed his disgust about the traffic, et cetera. I think he had to walk some distance to get to his car.”
“So that mayor became President, so he said that, “Okay, we will host but do not affect traffic.” Because, truth is, we, unfortunately during that time there were security considerations and therefore the timings of landing, et cetera, we cannot determine,” he added, referring to then Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte. John Paolo Bencito
Paynor said that a 10-minute arrival or departure of a single ASEAN aircraft will cause at least 3 cancelled flights in NAIA.
“We don’t want to cause great hassle to our thousands of air travellers considering the enormity of this event. At the same time, we have to maintain the security and safety of our ASEAN delegates being the host country,” he explained.
Paynor likewise explained that they had been preparing for the hosting since about a year and a half ago, in order that the meeting would go “unhampered and hassle-free.”
“We are ready to accept and meet up all of the various heads of government, heads of state, heads of government who are coming here,” Paynor said.
Aside from the ten leaders of the ASEAN Member States, leaders of countries who participate in the East Asia Summit — including Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Chinese Premier Li Kequiang, Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Narenda Modi, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and United States President Donald Trump is expected to come here to the country for the annual meet.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk are also expected to visit the country for ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary, Paynor said.
“Thus far, we have not had any indication of anyone not coming… As long as they have not indicated that they are not coming, we assume that they are,” Paynor said.
To ensure preparedness for the motorcades, Paynor said they met with the local government executives of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Manila to discuss the implication of the leaders’ movements.
Proclamation No. 332 declared November 13 to 15 as special non-working holidays in the National Capital Region, as well as in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga.
“This is because leaders’ travels to and from Clark will take the NLEX and which will pass through these two provinces,” he said.
Paynor said the support and collaboration of local leaders were requested in terms of security, traffic, and cleanliness.
In terms of security, Paynor said full security alert would be implemented in areas where the leaders would be, while the whole country would also be on alert.
“All police stations, all Armed Forces camps, all other security agencies including Coast Guard et cetera will be on full alert,” he said.