PH airports ‘must be improved’

THE Philippines must improve its airports so that foreign visitors need not pass through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to reach their respective destinations, a think tank said.

Although there are over 80 airports in the country, fewer than 20 have nightflying capabilities, or can only operate until 6 p.m., Wallace Business Forum Chairman Peter Wallace said.

“It’s not a matter of building more airports; they must be improved,” he added.

According to him, the facilities of most of these airports must be upgraded, so that those who want to travel to their chosen destinations can do so, even at night.

Because the majority of the 80- plus airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines ( CAAP) have poor facilities, many overseas visitors traveling to such tourist destinations like Siargao and Batanes provinces or El Nido in Palawan province need to go through NAIA first.

“If you’re a businessman and you want a quick vacation, nobody would pick Siargao or Batanes, because the time you’ll spend in Manila to get a flight there will” be timeconsuming, he said.

The lack of night-flying capabilities, he said, is one reason the Philippines is not the preferred destination of tourists. Those who tried to travel through NAIA became more frustrated because of the severe road traffic, he added.

According to CAAP, only 19 of the 88 airports it manages can allow planes to land and take off after 7 p.m.

ED VELASCO