Airport GM Edgardo C. Manda agrees that given the intractable problems of NAIA 1 and the time it will take to refurbish the building (indefinite according to him) for the grand sum of P800 million, the only solution seems to be to open NAIA 3. Remember that apart from being a public service, the airport is also the gateway to the country. No matter what refurbishing is done, if it will end up being uncompetitive with airports in the region, it will not have served its purpose. Apart from its already modern and spunking airport, Malaysia has announced plans to make their airport Asia’s low-cost hub. Meantime I have received voluminous material from the protagonists in the legal battle on NAIA 3. I thank them for the information but I am afraid it is precisely this legal battle on who is right, who should own and operate it, that is depriving the public of a service they deserve and pay for.
I understand that the parties have submitted pleadings and counterpleadings to the International Court of Arbitration. A preliminary conference will be held come June 10 in Singapore. This is only a few days from now. The government is represented by SolGen Alfredo Benipayo, former Supreme Court Justice Florentino Feliciano and the US White and Case law firm as assisting counsels while PIATCO is represented by the Romulo, Mabanta Law Offices and Lee & Lee, a law firm in Singapore. Expect fireworks in this legal battle. No wonder, Benipayo has been making noises that NAIA 3 may be unsafe. PIATCO, on the other hand, says this is untrue. It rejects any insinuation that it is defective or that it has been abandoned. According to them, the Takenaka corporation of Japan who built NAIA 3 is a reputable builder of airports continues to maintain the unused terminal while the parties debate the issues.
But where is the paying public in the scheme of things? No where. And this is what a citizens’ lobby should be about. The bottom line of the issue on NAIA 3 is what it can do for the public. Given the harm it does to the public, a citizens’ lobby should not be mere spectator to the case between the two factions fighting for their self-interest. In this regard, the government, more than PIATCO, should factor in a suffering public denied of a service they pay for each time they use the airport. The same is true with the country’s chambers of commerce and industry which have to compete for trade and investments in a region of first-class airports. They are severely handicapped by the shameful airport through which potential investors pass, not to mention tourists who come and then spread the word to avoid the Philippines because it is a third-rate country without a decent airport. By breaking the impasse we will have broken what has become a symbol of national inertia which stops the country from moving forward.
Unless citizens take the initiative to demand a service in the public interest, the issue of a decent airport will fall by the wayside and be merely a struggle for financial interests. The task of a citizens’ lobby is to provide a forum through which as many users of the airport and the public can participate. Given the differences in opinion, the public end-user should satisfy itself to determine when it can be used whether it can be used safely. This is a matter for the public, not any of the interested contending sides. In this task, care must be taken not to be for one side or the other. Leave that to the lawyers. But a way must be found to detach public interest from the legal wrangling. Let the competing parties continue their legal battle, but the public needs an acceptable airport as soon as possible. The citizens’ lobby which I envision must consider the impossible or near impossible: How to detach the issue of public service from vested interests. Such a task will require flexibility and intelligence. This column will be glad to receive non-confrontational suggestions from the public. Indeed I have already received some viable suggestions from various parties but will reserve these until proper homework has been done in organizing the lobby group.
The maiden issue will explore Britain’s presence in the Philippines – Power and Energy Sector, Financial Services, Advancement in biotechnology and agriculture as well as Education and Sports. It will also showcase Manila as one of the most fashionable cities in the world, embracing famous UK brands such as Paul Smith, Burberry and Marks and Spencer, Top Shop and many more. The front cover will feature the Movers and Shakers of Philippine and British Business with participation of British Ambassador Paul Dimond, HSBC CEO Warner Manning, British Gas General Manager Anthony Barker, Stores Specialist’s Anton Huang, First Philippine Gas Chairman Peter Garrucho and British Chamber of Commerce Chairman Geoff Short among others. Publishers are Ma’an Gabriel and Mariel Eduarte-Clark who have both previously worked with the British Embassy Manila as Press and Public Officer and Commercial Representative, respectively. It will be distributed exclusively to top decision makers and top business managers nationwide and selected business associations in Asia-Pacific.
For more information log on to www.qualitybritain.com or call CRÈME UNIT Office at 8125654 or 8674219.