This is not the first time that I have written about this topic. Some

months ago I wrote about my trip to Cebu from NAIA 2 via PAL. I

remember that I mentioned that, as expected the terminal personnel

started loading the passengers about 30 minutes prior to departure

time. When the designated time arrived, the passengers were told by

the pilot that our time for takeoff was moved to some 30 minutes later

because of the congested air traffic at the airport. When we departed

from Cebu to return to Manila, the same routine happened. Our

departure was delayed again because of air traffic in Manila. This

problem is a continuing one, both at the NAIA, in Mactan, and other

airports. Many times the planes are standing by for takeoff at the

tarmac or nearby, with its engines running to provide power to the

aircraft’s air-conditioning system.

Questions: 1) What ever happened to the supposed minor changes at

the runway and taxi way at NAIA to speed up takeoffs and landings? 2)

How about the suggestion that private aircraft activities should be

transferred to Sangley to reduce air traffic at our main airport? 3) What

ever happened to the planned construction at a second airport

somewhere near or beside Sangley, Cavite? 4) How about the

acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment to avoid unnecessary failures

of present aging radar, communications, and other facilities? I

remember there was a not-too-recent incident where flights at the

Ninoy Aquino airport were diverted because the power source was hit

by lightning, thus there was no radar.

The other night I happened to pass near the Alphaland EDSA MRT

station. I could not believe what I saw. There were hundreds of train

passengers trying to get a ride. The commuter line from the stairway

entrance wound like a snake in front of Alphaland building towards its

side road and back to the front of the building. Some of my friends told

me that I have not seen enough. I should have seen the other long

lines at MRT Cubao, etc. How about at the LRT stations?

What is being done to solve these said problems? Buy more trains,

spare parts, etc? How about the maintenance of the facilities? What

about the ticketing system? I do remember that years ago, I used to

commute between New Haven, Connecticut and Manhattan Island

New York City, USA. Likewise, many times I rode the subway from the

basement of the old Pan Am building where the main station is located,

all the way to the basement of the lamented Twin Towers, in order to

take the ferry boat to Staten Island. Sure there were a lot of

passengers, but certainly I did not see any problems in these facilities.

How about the movement of cargo via truck trailers from the ports of

Manila and vice versa? Why did the problem escalate? The rapid

movement of goods to and from the piers has not been resolved.

All the above issues certainly affect our economy in view of the

restricted movement of raw materials, the export of our own

manufactured goods, etc., the mobility of our manpower, the wasted

fuel burned by our land and air transportation system which results in

billions of pesos lost.

Read more at

http://www.mb.com.ph/transportation-problems/#egu3A6r54qdSWVEh.99