Vindictiveness returns
Explanations from transport officials regarding the New Year air traffic mess have opened more questions instead of providing answers to some lingering ones such as the alleged diversion of P13 billion in funds for a supposed redundancy for the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system.
Looking into the government budgeting process, however, gives the view that the intrigues are being used to cover the incompetence of those in the state aviation field primarily those who should be held accountable for the foul-up.
The sudden loss of the system controlling air traffic did not only result in the massive disruption of air travel but also exposed the vulnerability of the airspace.
Consider an air attack from a foreign aggressor or even a terror attempt from the air not being detected just because a cooling fan of the backup power system conked out.
Then there are the doubts unleashed on the safety of visitors as the world is haunted by the prospect of inbound aircraft flying blind.
Days after the incident, there is a feeling that the airport officials, with the help of some members of the Senate, are trying to pin the blame on the officials of the Duterte administration.
The new officials, nonetheless, will have to face the fact that the goof-up happened six months after the new administration took over which raises the question of the actions taken during the period.
Former Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon said the air traffic facilities were turned over in good working condition to the new officials.
Regarding the supposed fund’s diversion, Tuazon said the Japan International Cooperation Agency that provided the grant for the project should have flagged the alleged irregularities since it is strict in the use of loan proceeds.
Then there’s the Commission on Audit which also does not allow the juggling of funds in the budget.
Protect public welfare
Pointing of fingers is being resorted to which does not serve the purpose of exposing the truth about what happened.
Even the number being tossed about which is the P13 billion that was alleged to have been diverted may not even have existed.
“It’sverysimple.
They can check the General Appropriations
Act or the National Expenditure Program on the alleged amount diverted,” Tuazon said.
He added that if there was a provision for P13 billion in 2018 or any year thereafter until
June 2022. “Then show it to us and we will be answerable.”
He said for 2018, for instance, the CAAP budget was only P122 million for the administration and maintenance costs of the CNS-ATM.
The CNS-ATM project, however, received Japanese funding.
The total project largely funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency cost P10.8 billion.
How can P13 billion for the project be diverted? Also, the JICA is famously very strict about compliance with project specifications.
The next point disputed was the suggestion for redundancy. The busted UPS was an integral part of the backup system.
“Unfortunately, it was not properly maintained, thus it failed to kick in. The air traffic management system is not the problem. It was working perfectly well until the power outage,” he said.
After the UPS failed to take over, the system crashed.
The proposal to put up a standby system on a separate site is not feasible.
“I really don’t understand their proposal. My understanding is you can’t have two CNS-ATMs operating simultaneously covering the same area. The two systems will conflict with each other,” he said.
There should only be one conductor of the orchestra.
Also, there’s a question about who will be manning the second CNS-ATM.
The government will also have to hire people for that since it is not possible for the facility to be idle and just wait for the former Department of Transportation officials.
The smell of vindictive politics last experienced in the administration of former President Noynoy Aquino is back in vogue.
“The
new officials, nonetheless, will have to face the fact that the goof-up happened six months after the new administration took over which raises the question of the actions taken during the period.
“
The sudden loss of the system controlling air traffic did not only result in the massive disruption of air travel but also exposed the vulnerability of the airspace.