Jun Ledesma
Four months had elapsed from the time Pres. Rodrigo Duterte bowed out of office and Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had since then assumed as president, we Davaowenyos seemed to have forgotten an important Republic Act which could change the economic and development environment of the Davao Region.
In August 30, 2019 then President Duterte signed Republic Act 114571 creating the Davao International Airport Authority. Reading through the Act, it looks like it was patterned after Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority. The MCIAA started in 1990 under Cory Aquino’s term but it was not until the administration of Duterte that it metamorphosed into something classy worthy of its name.
Before the RA 114571 that created the DIAA was signed, the Duterte government had set aside ₱40.57-billion for the modernization of the Francisco Bangoy Davao International Airport.
As a backgrounder, upgrading of the present Davao airport terminal also started during the term of President Aquino. The late Congressman Manuel “Nonoy” Garcia was the author of the bill for the improvement and expansion of the terminal facilities and runway.
Not a few thought that the idea was to add additional wing to the existing building then. But no, they came up with a new terminal building. The architecture however failed in comparison with the old terminal building which had since then become a multi-purpose structure. In Davao as well as in most placed in the country, most of the beautiful edifices and other infrastructures done during the Marcos era were either left unmaintained or mothballed. To save on rental and much needed space, then Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Manuel Pinol transferred MinDa from the SSS building. After Manny, MinDa had been relocated anew to a high rise building downtown.
The design and construction of the new terminal building was done by a British consultant hired by the Asian Development Bank which was the source of fund. This, from the start is already anomalous. The Brit gets a hefty fee as consultant and as designer-contractor he hits the jackpot. Nobody complained as everybody seemed to be happy with the arrangement.
The construction of the building started with the term of Pres. Fidel Ramos. Shortly before his term ended, the new terminal was partially opened. On a personal note, in one of my return trips to Davao from Manila I took a night and very rainy flight. As we deplaned in Davao we emerged from the passenger tube to an ingress in the terminal. We had a generous rain showers. The escalator which led to the luggage carousel was not functioning so we took the stairs. As we approached the base I saw what I thought was newly polished flooring. I only realized then that the glimmering floor was actually flood water reflected by a moribund light. Women were screaming “daga! daga! ”. As we exited the luggage claim area there were centipedes crawling in dry places.
The “new” terminal building became functional by the end of the term of Ramos. Erap Estrada government entered the scene. He has was advised that there was still an available fund of ₱500-million. It took only a simple alignment of the parking lot to justify the expense.
The project must be cursed from the very start as it was reeking of corruption and evil intention that before Erap escaped Malacanang Palace the terminal building cracked right in the middle. To correct the structural anomaly, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo set aside a couple of millions savings from DPWH.
Davao International Airport Authority Act enunciated with all clarity how the assets, management, supervision of all commercial interests and enterprises of Francisco Bangoy International Airport of Davao be transferred to the DIAA.
The P40.57-billion Davao airport modernization fund will no doubt make the project fly. I am disturbed however why President Duterte expressed apprehension that the modernization may not even be started before his term ends by 2022.
We Davaowenyos are witnessess to what kind of “modernization” plan is happening in the F. Bangoy International Airport today. They have covered the facade and we do not know what kind of carpentry job is going inside. The only perceptible change is the rate of parking fee which had been doubled.
Just to let my readers know, the Department of Transport is the lead agency for the modernization of the Davao International Airport. The DIAA charter states that the DOTr Secretary (Art Tugade then) shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors. The DIAA Board has to have 15 members to include the DOTr Secretary and the General Manager of the Authority are Chairman and Vice Chairman Respectively.
The DIAA Board of Directors include Secretaries of the Departments of Finance, Agriculture and Health. All of them set as ex-officio members along with the Secretary of Tourism and a non-elective official to be designated by the City Mayor of Davao. Seven more members will come from the private sector from the provinces and cities of Davao region.
Looking at the composition gives you the reasons why the DIAA is in limbo and buried in the deep sheet of bureaucratic ineptness.
The Davao Iternational Airport Authority will have a significant impact in Davao Region in that we can be another hub for international travels, tourism and commerce. Prior to his presidency, Pres. Bongbong Marcos and sister Sen. Imee Marcos had been our constant visitor. For sure he must have felt the exigent need upgrading the facilities of the terminal given the number of domestic and international flights that land in Davao.
The regional economy and Davao City for one is expanding in the seams the airport has to address the growing air traffic. Our leaders are with you, President sir. We were and still are together in making your vision come into a fruition. Remember? “Ang pangarap ninyo ay pangarap ko”.
The DOTr which is the lead agency in the DIAA and its development project has a new Secretary, Jaime Bautista who was formerly president of the Philippine Air Lines. He knows best how the DIAA will work and how the development project for the Davao International Airport should be done to completion. (Jun Ledesma/photo courtesy of aviationnewsphilippines.com)