Santa Banana, here we go again!
The Senate and the House of Representatives have scheduled separate hearings and investigations on what happened at the Naia last week and over the weekend and even on to Monday when thousands of flights were canceled. A Xiamen Airlines aircraft skidded off the lone runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Because of the incident, the airport was a mess!
Why is there a need for a probe when we the people are already aware of what is wrong?
It is simply the incompetence of airport officials, including the Transportation department. They do not have foresight. We are all too aware of the Naia’s inadequacies.
The problem boils down to one thing—the lone Naia runway. There have been many proposals to build alternate airports and with multiple runways. But the government has taken its sweet time.
There have been unsolicited proposals from no less than seven conglomerates to repair Naia. These have gone through the wringer of the Investment Coordinating Council of the National Economic and Development Authority. The geniuses there believe they know better than businessmen.
Take, for instance, that San Miguel proposal. It would not require a single centavo from the government. The proposal was made some three or four years ago. If the Duterte administration has enough vision for the future, that proposal would now be on track.
In the meantime, while there are proposals to build alternate airports, there is Clark International Airport with its four runways. Logic and reason dictate that Naia and Clark could complement each other. What is needed, however, is ready access and convenience of travelers.
If the inquiry proves that the incident was caused by pilot error, damages should be paid by the Xiamen owners.
But if the intention of the hearings is just to find solutions to the mess, we know very well that the real problem is incompetence.
If President Duterte must assuage the public’s outrage, he should do some housecleaning at Naia and the Transportation Department.
Doesn’t the President realize that tourism in the Philippines can take a beating after this mess? The airport is not only outdated—it is downright dangerous!
Congressional investigations are supposed to be in aid of legislation. I can’t think of a law that can solve what is happening.
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The PDP-Laban political party came out with the names of 24 “probables” for the 2019 senatorial polls.
Among those listed, I can think of only the following “winnable” names: Senators Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay and JV Ejercito. Former MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino is also winnable considering that he was number 13 in the last election.
And then there is Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. And if House Speaker Gloria Arroyo runs, I believe she will top the slate.
I don’t know why the PDP-Laban included the name of former Senator Lito Lapid. He himself however said he was uncomfortable as a senator.
And why include special assistant Christopher Go at all? Surveys say he is at the bottom of the list. Why also include Ronald dela Rosa, under whose incumbency at the Philippine National Police thousands were killed? Now as head of the Bureau of Corrections, he cannot even stop the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons.
At any rate, the race promises to be interesting.
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Malacañang should make addressing the jail problem a priority. In jails here, inmates are living in subhuman conditions.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology had stated that city and provincial jails are 162 percent over capacity.
There was a proposal to relocate the NBP, but I don’t know what happened to it. Former Justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II scrapped it.
With the appointment of Menardo Guevarra as secretary, perhaps the issue can be revisited, and the relocation can be pursued.
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The debate about the health of the President will not stop until the Palace comes out with a medical bulletin.
Mr. Duterte knows that his health condition is a national concern. Malacañang should realize we cannot have an ailing head of state.
