Thoughts in the air

By Marifi Jara

An international airport in Pangasinan to boost tourism.

Hmm. Not, in my opinion, the most soaring (pun intended) of ideas.

From an environmental perspective, air travel is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emission worldwide. The additional carbon footprint that will be generated from an international airport here in Pangasinan, a province that is just less than 300 kilometers away from the capital city, which has an international airport, is not ecologically sound.

And speaking of the international airport in Metro Manila, need I remind you how that remains in a huge and unbelievably terrible mess. I’m not talking about the existing aged and cramped Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). I’m talking about the mothballed NAIA 3 project.

Construction for NAIA 3 started in 1997, that’s one decade ago, and it was completed in 2002, 5 years ago. It remains closed to this day. The government could not put it into operation because there are still legal and financial obstacles – arising from government anomalies – that are numerous, thorny and even involving international entities and courts. On top of all that, remember, in March last year, a 100-square meter portion of the ceiling of the idle airport terminal caved in. Now we have infrastructure problems on top of the legal troubles.

I cannot in my wildest waking dreams imagine how our national government, at this point, can possibly help our provincial government under Governor Amado Espino Jr.,   along   with   the municipal government of Sta. Barbara under Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, build their dream airport here.

From an economic perspective, we must remember that tourism development is not merely about flying in tourists into the province.

We need an overall infrastructure and industry expansion. That includes the development of travel destinations within the province, building of a wide range of lodging options that will cater to the different levels of travelers from backpackers to the high-end market, setting up of complementary businesses such as dining and shopping places, modes of public land transport, public offices that will address the needs of tourists, and setting up a comprehensive tourism plan and policy that will ensure the protection of our environment.

It’s inspiring to have leaders who dream big. But let’s not get carried away. Let’s keep our feet and heads on the ground. Let’s be pragmatic.

Look, the Philippines is an archipelago. It baffles me why our sea transport system is one of the worst in the world. Our province lies in one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. I don’t see why we cannot develop a first-rate network of ports coupled by an efficient water transport system. Let’s have fast ferries for expeditious trips, bigger-but-slower boats for more romantic (and cheaper) cruises, or maybe design and develop some special sea vessel that will be uniquely Pangasinan.

Tourism is unarguably a very promising industry, one that could become the major income source of the province, even bigger than fisheries and agriculture. But tourism development does not lie up there in the air.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/)

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