The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Thursday called on the Duterte administration to implement a “holistic approach” in the development and management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and Clark International Airport, in response to the growing number of aviation travelers.
“We fully support the plan of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to optimize, through upgrades the existing Naia, while redeveloping the Clark International Airport,” the business group said in a news statement.
“We back the decision of the DOTr to maintain and upgrade the Naia, a valuable state asset,” the MAP statement added. The statement said decongesting the Naia will entail developing Clark as an alternate departure and arrival airport.
The Tutuban to Clark railway to be undertaken by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) as part of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program is also a welcome project, but may improve connectivity by connecting the proposed railway project to the Naia, the MAP statement said.
MAP suggested the establishment of in-city check-in stations to benefit travelers with luggage to avail themselves of remote check-in services.
“These check-in stations should be easily accessible and are to be strategically located adjacent to the fast train and near either the Nlex-Slex or Edsa. One such facility could be located at the MPIC [Metro Pacific Investments Corp.]-proposed fast train terminal at the junction of Gil Puyat [Buendia] Avenue and PNR line in Makati. The MRT [Metro Rail Transit] 3 common station at the intersection of Edsa and North Avenue in Quezon City would be a good site for the second station, if such will, likewise, be served by or linked to the fast train,” it said.
A centralized management of the entire aviation system under a single authority should be created, the statement added, to streamline the organizational structure of the aviation industry for efficient decision-making and coordination.