MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II Tuesday disclosed a government plan to sell Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) property to the private sector after transferring international airline operations to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga.
In a roundtable discussion with Manila Bulletin editors Tuesday, Roxas said the privatization of NAIA would be similar to what happened to Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport when it was replaced by its current gateway in Chek Lap Kok.
Roxas said that selling of Kai Tak Airport to pay for the transfer of operations to Chek Lap Kok is the scenario that government wants to replicate in the case of NAIA and DMIA.
“If air traffic in DMIA grows just as expected, we will sell NAIA to pay for the transfer. But if it becomes very high, we might keep the two,” Roxas said.
It was recalled that Roxas proposed the transfer of the country’s premiere airport from NAIA to DMIA, saying NAIA’s runway and terminal is already exceeding its capacity and its physical limitations could not keep up with the demands of international and domestic air traffic.
But Roxas said the eventual transfer will only be made after the North Rail line has been reconfigured and constructed into a high-speed train link from NAIA to DMIA, transporting airline passenger from Manila to Clark in less than an hour.
The DoTC chief defended the relocation plan, saying that expanding the 440-hectare NAIA will be more expensive and time-consuming than moving the commercial flights operation to the under-utilized DMIA, which is roughly covering 2,000 hectares of Clark Freeport Zone.
Roxas said utilizing the existing parallel runways of DMIA for international and domestic flights is more practical for government than shelling out taxpayers’ money to buy out adjacent properties in Paranaque or Pasay City or reclaiming coastal areas to expand NAIA’s runways and terminals.
Roxas added that general aviation, which involves operation of private and corporate hangars, and aviation schools, will also be moved to Sangley in Cavite as part of the long term plan to decongest NAIA.
But in the meantime, Roxas vowed to institute facelift projects for NAIA Terminal 1, which serves international flights but was adjudged as one of the worst airports in the world for its poor facilities.
“We are going to fix our front door to make it bearable and presentable for our tourists and balikbayans. But for government, there is no point transferring international flights to the new Terminal 3 because their rated capacities are almost the same and we cannot afford disruptions in operations,” he said.
At present, NAIA’s runway accommodates 43 scheduled landings or takeoffs in an hour, which is above its rated capacity of 36 events. NAIA’s Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 are collectively accommodating 30 million passengers for this year, which is nearing its rated capacity of 32 million passengers.
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By: Kris Bayos
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 18, 2011
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