MAP bats for holistic system in aviation

The Management Association of the Philipines (MAP) is seeking a holistic aviation system for Metro Manila and Luzon in a bid to address the rapid increase in visitor volume in the country.

In a statement, MAP said it welcomes government’s announcements to undertake certain infrastructure projects which are the indispensable components of the envisioned holistic aviation system.

The group pointed out there is a need to harness all available resources to promptly provide the needed infrastructure and management support for the growing number of air passengers.

“We fully support the plan of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to optimize, through upgrades, the existing NAIA while redeveloping the Clark International Airport (CIA),” MAP said.

MAP emphasized the importance of upgrading NAIA, as it has the great advantage of accessibility given its location in the city.

“Many large cities in the world recognize this, so they are improving and maintaining their old airports instead of phasing them out. Tokyo is expanding its Haneda to supplement Narita,” it said.

Upgrading the existing NAIA facilities would provide relief to the present problem of severe passenger and aircraft traffic congestion, the group said.

“Pending completion of the upgrades, one quick way of mitigating the congestion in NAIA is to make Clark attractive as an alternate departure and arrival airport through appropriate inducements,” MAP said.

Apart from airports, MAP said there are other important components of a holistic aviation system such as fast trains and in city check-in stations.

“For better connectivity and convenience of the traveling public, we suggest that the proposed fast train to Clark be extended to NAIA, instead of terminating at Tutuban, Manila,” the group said.

In addition, MAP said check-in stations should be easily accessible and should be strategically located adjacent to the fast train and near either the NLEX-SLEX expressway or EDSA.

“One such facility could be located at the MPIC-proposed fast train terminal at the junction of Gil Puyat (Buendia) Ave. and PNR line in Makati,” MAP said.

Also, MAP recommends the use of point-to-point services from the check-in stations to the airport.

“We believe that, together with the other components of the envisioned aviation system, optimization will extend the usefulness of NAIA for another eight to 10 years,” MAP said.

The group, however, urges the government look beyond that time frame and plan for the long term sustainable future of NAIA.

Furthermore, MAP suggests a centralized management of the entire aviation system under a single authority for expeditious decision-making, better control and efficient coordination.

It added that the outsourcing of operation and maintenance (O&M) of each facility using the public private partnership mode is an option.