Anything that isn’t used tends to deteriorate. The third terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has been lying idle for so long it’s awkward to describe it as brand-new, is supposed to be undergoing a thorough structural inspection after it sustained cracks from a recent earthquake. But it’s not just earthquake damage that must be checked. Not too long ago, a large portion of the ceiling collapsed — from leaks, from substandard materials or the constant passage of rats, no one is sure.
Authorities are trying to determine if the contractor of the terminal used substandard building materials. They could be on the right track, considering the unscrupulous cost-cutting that often characterizes the implementation of government contracts. But they should also consider structural deterioration from years of disuse as an aggravating factor.
The longer the NAIA-3 remains idle, the greater the deterioration, and the larger the infusion of investment that will be required for its rehabilitation before it can be operational. Over the years the government has been pushing back the deadline for opening the terminal, which is badly needed to augment the original one plus Terminal 2. NAIA-3 is bogged down in litigation. But knowing that it could take two decades before a final ruling can be handed down in such cases, surely the government can invoke public interest to operate NAIA-3 as soon as possible.
In neighboring countries, governments are expanding or building new airports not just out of necessity, because of a huge jump in passenger traffic, but also for bragging rights. Malaysia and then Thailand built massive, modern airports that they hoped could compete with Singapore’s ultra-efficient, ultra-comfortable Changi Airport. Even Cambodia is playing catch-up; NAIA could pale in comparison with the international airport in Siem Reap, gateway to the antiquities in Angkor Wat.
In the Philippines, we do not have the luxury of worrying about bragging rights. We cannot even open one airport terminal without the project getting entangled in a corruption scandal, interminable litigation and the lack of political will to make the facility operational.
EDITORIAL
The Philippine Star
3 Comments
well…. dapat kasi hindi na pinalitan ang pangalan na MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT… ibalik na kasi… malas ang NINOY AQUINO na pangalan. wala siyang ‘concrete legacy’ sa sambayanan, meron seguro sa mga followers niya na may catarata…
The NAIA-3 is similar to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Billions of pesos in public funds na inutang at pagbabayaran ng bawat Pilipino yet we are not getting anything in return. Meanwhile money changed hands already among the corrupt officials involved in the project planning up to the construction. The allocated funds were already exhausted which probably explain why very few are interested in pursuing the opening of the terminal. Surely, the editor is right. The President can always invoke public interest. If she was able to declare a state of national emergency in the name of public interest why can’t she do it to open an airport terminal which is of paramount importance to our country.
Bakit hindi na lang i convert na hotel iyan for OFW, third country nationals at mga tourist.. at least kikita pa sila.. libre pa ang view.. kitang kita ang mga eroplano!
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