I thought Prof. Pernia only wanted a clarification and not an outright rejection of the airport in Panglao. Well, this was what the Editorial in the Bohol Chronicle said anyway.
But looking at this video gave the clear message that Prof. Pernia does not want to have the new airport in Panglao. The idea of having the airport in Panglao was started way back from the Governorship of Constancio "Nonoy" Torralba in 1988. The Boholanos have to wait for twenty (20) years before this dream of having an airport in Panglao would now come true.
If he wants to transfer the airport in another place, that would mean waiting for another 20 years before having a new airport will be realized.
Twenty years is a very long time. And with the increasing frequency of flights between Tagbilaran and Manila presently 6 flights per day, the chances of an aircraft related accident at our very short runway in Tagbilaran in a highly populated residential and institutional zone could happen--God forbid! Do we have to let this tragedy happen in that span of 20 years while waiting for a new airport to be built in a location other than Panglao? Who will be blamed when this tragedy will occur (again, God forbid)? Not Prof. Pernia and the rest who are oppose to having an airport in Panglao, no sir. It will be the government officials who will be blamed for their "inaction". The pilots will be blamed. The airline company will be blamed for providing flight services in Tagbilaran's inadequate airport. And will Prof. Pernia and the rest of the oppositors come forward and admit part of the responsibility. No siree, not a chance.
The video also shows that Prof. Pernia already has a closed mind. No amount of clarification or dialogue will get him to change his mind. He said that he is sure that whatever evaluation on the economic benefits that will be derived on the airport in Panglao was not properly done. Let us ask, did Prof. Pernia read the feasibility study? What was his basis in po-poohing the study? How could he, in good consccience, prejudge the project without even studying the data or conducting his own study for good measure? Well, you can't blame him. After all, he is a Professor in the University of the Philippines.
Prof. Pernia is giving too much credit to Bohol's local officials on the realization of the Panglao airport. Hey, the local officials do not have the monopoly in the realization of this project. The national officials played a more vital role. It's them up in the national government who hold all the gold coins, they have the say how much money to put in and when.
Inter-generational equity? Sure, it sounds cool and "in" to be looking out for the good of the future generation. No one would quarrel with him about that. But hey, let us be realistic. According to Balong, quoting some genius on self-improvement, the only power we have is the power of the NOW. The past and the future do not count.
What is the reality of the NOW?
1. We have a dangerous airport in Tabilaran. A new airport must be developed pronto. We can't wait for a disaster to happen.
2. There is a looming food crisis and the people are hungry. We can't wait for another 20 years before the people in Panglao and in Bohol in general will get a better chance to improve the quality of their life.
3. Investors are accelerating their investment in Panglao because the airport will be located there. Take away the airport from the equation and you are depriving the people of jobs and livelihood.
It's so easy to say the project is bad because you have a full stomach and financially secure. But just try to explain to the parents they and their children will have to go to bed on an empty stomach for one more night -- no, for twenty more years -- because the airport, and the job-generation potentials and livelihood that comes along with it, will just have to be moved elsewhere.
Hi Dot(.),
Pardon me if I beg to differ.
I believe some of the points raised by Dr. Pernia have merit. Offhand, I think a project that took 20 years to gestate should have a more deliberated form and substance that incorporates the inputs of all concerned parties and interests.
The way Panglao International Airport is being touted by its proponents smacks more of political posturing than consideration of the long-term economic and environmental interests of Bohol. I am just leery of Arroyo bandying dialogue with Aumentado that the airport has to be completed before the president's term ends in 2010. It seems to me that the remaining two years of Arroyo's term weigh more than the last 20 years of this project's conception.
I understand that Dr. Pernia's position is not all-or-nothing. I think at the outset, he recognizes the need for an airport, nay a bigger one, not on environmentally fragile Panglao but in a more appropriate mainland location.
I have expressed my position earlier on a similar thread regarding the Panglao airport construction. If ecotourism is the goose that lays the golden eggs for Bohol, building the airport in a prime nature destination will be endangering this goose.
I was in Bohol only last week. I notice how vibrant the international tourist traffic has become compared to four years go, as about half of the passengers on the boat were foreigners.
But rain-drenched Bohol provides a clear illustration of the Biblical parable on stewardship--that only those who can be entrusted with the small things can be entrusted with the grander things.
If our local government is unable to address the drainage and the garbage problem, not to mention the water and power crisis, which are key to the long-term sustainability of the tourism enterprise that gave this province its newfound prosperity, how can we be expected to handle such a huge infrastructure project?
As Mactan demonstrates, the presence of an international airport alone will not draw all the tourists in the world. We can widen the gates of our house, but no guests will come unless we remove the stench in our gutters and improve our security.
Let's join hands to build a bigger airport outside of Tagbilaran and Panglao. And while we are doing this, let us improve the management of the basic services of our city and localities so that when the airport is done, tourists will find Bohol's natural charm intact.
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