This kind of delay due to traffic congestion at NAIA has become a standard happening. It has become a practice.
Two weeks ago when we went to Palawan, our departure was delayed for about 30 minutes.
We were already seated, our seatbelts fastened yet we were not taking until after half-an-hour later. Same reason: traffic congestion.
To say that the delay due to airport traffic congestion is annoying is an understatement because it tells a lot of the many things wrong the way the government handles a most basic infrastructure in a globalized world: airports.
Our airports, especially NAIA, has been left behind by developments in the travel industry. Puerto Princesa airport is another case of a facility not being able to keep pace with the tourism boom in the province.
Budget flights have allowed many Filipinos to travel within and outside the country, discovering new places and widening their horizons.
Our airports is one aspect that we can say “It’s not more fun in the Philippines.”
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The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that after maintenance service of their electronic passport system, they have resumed normal processing starting April 15. 2014.
Here’s the processing period that they released:
At the DFA-Aseana (Office of Consular Affairs) at Aseana Center, Bradco corner Macapagal Ave, Parañaque City, 15 working days for regular processing and seven working days for express processing.
It’s the same with passport application in DFA’s satellite offices in Metro Manila:at SM Megamall, SM Manila, Metro Mall Alabang, Robinsons Galleria and Ali Mall.
That note that it’s “working” days. That means Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays are not counted.
For passport applications in Regional Consular Offices like Cebu , it’s 20 working days for regular processing and 10 working days for express processing.
For applications filed with Foreign Service Posts (Philippine Embassies and Consulates General), processing is three to four weeks.
The DFA said for “those with urgent travel needs due to emergency reasons (medical emergencies, death in the family, work) they could still avail of early release of their passports as long as they present documentary proof (valid employment contract processed by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or Philippine Overseas Labor Office, medical certificate, death certificate) of their emergency situation in order for DFA personnel to effectively assist them and address their concerns.”
For fees and other inquiries, call up 567-1111; 834-4000; 834-3000.
Emergency need not be supported by documentations but usually an extra fees is charged for expedited processing including express shipping. It could be process in a day or two in our case…in cases like family emergency.. Now our Foreign affairs is issuing a Ten Year passport for 1/2 discount for the Xtra five years.. Use to expire 5 years..renewal will take a week or less by person or mail..
Ellen..some of the reasons why NAIA is perennially congested is the shortage of runways to serve the volume of flights..I compare the volume of passengers of NAIA with Pearson International, Canada’s busiest airport and both handle about the same volume of passengers while Pearson handles substantially large Volume of Cargo Flights, NAIA has only Two runways while Pearson has Five..and more than double the taxiways. And also there is an island Airport that serve the Regional destinations just across the lake from downtown with only 15 minutes Ferry ride every 15 minutes (under the lake pedestrian crossing is under construction) to relieve the Main Airport.
Believe if another runway could be added will greatly help relieve the Flight congestion from NAIA. from other local flights to Manila that is another issue..
Wala bang nagbabalak na politiko para ibalik ang dating pangalan ng airport na Manila International Airport?
Arvin @ 3 I doubt it very much since that is the trend now…there is the Johh F Kennedy International and who would revert the name back to whatever the old name…Toronto International is now renamed After the Brain of the UN Peacekeeper and our former PM, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Lester B. Pearson and who would dare renamed it back to Toronto international? same as with NAIA,,but it should be renamed Benigno Aquino or Aquino instead of Ninoy…you just never use a nickname no matter how popular to formally name an Airport or a major landmark…
#3 That’s what I’ve been asking and suggesting. Return to the old name Manila International Airport which better represents the country. Not NAIA which is not only hard to mention also doesn’t make sense naming it after a person’s name who was made hero by a few Yellow Mob.
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL !
Similar topic about airline and plane. Allow me to share this:
What Happened To Malaysian Flight MH370
#6, Mannie just share the link, please.
Don’t copy-paste long articles.
Sorry again Madam. Hope you had a great Easter.
Originally tatlo ang airports ng Manila. Grace Park sa Caloocan, Nielsen Field sa Ayala, Makati, at itong MIA sa Pasay. When we closed Grace and Nielsen, we were left with MIA (now occupied by the Domestic Airport) with two runways – 06/24 which was about 3.5 kms long, and 13/31 (also known as “Halang” or “Balagbag”) which was shorter by about 1 and a half kilometer. From the air, they look like scissors with one finger hole cut off.
And since they intersect, the design was not efficient in handling the traffic we are getting these days. It was originally designed that way since the airfield was shared by the Air Force planes and civilian aircraft. At the time, the pilot is directed by the control tower which runway to choose for maximum tailwind or headwind, depending on whether you’re taking off or landing, respectively. Plus, propeller planes do not need a long runway for either maneuver hence, “Balagbag” wasn’t touched. It was ok then even for BAC-111 passenger planes. But as the planes were made wider and bigger, the longer 06/24 was used more often and almost all traffic were using the same runway. Add to that the astronomical rise in budget carriers. Thank(?) God we are down to a handful or Air Force jets.
I can’t imagine how we would handle it if the Air Force had hundreds of fighter jets and cargo planes plus the ever-increasing number of flying schools in the area still using the Balagbag.
There are few options given the situation.
First, demolish 13/31 and all structures in that side and build a parallel runway. That way all take-offs happen on one runway and all landings take the other. This is the configuration most big airports use. London’s Heathrow is probably the busiest airport in the world and it only has 2 parallel runways yet there is no congestion like we have here. Here, most daytime traffic is consumed by budget carriers that the big airlines would not want to use the nighttime schedules due to obvious safety reasons.
If that is not possible, a new runway, probably in the reclaimed Roxas Blvd. area and connected by LRT trains to the main terminals which will be dedicated to either arriving or departing traffic exclusively, is needed.
Third, develop the Sangley Point airport into a civilian facility to handle exclusively budget airlines and/or military planes. Nichols/Villamor will have to be transferred there. Ditto all flying schools.
Fourth, consider expansion into Taguig, maybe reclaim part of Laguna Bay in the Northern area of the existing runway since that area is in the flight path’s danger zone anyway.
Again, connected by light rail.
But judging by the snail-pace DOTC and the incompetents headed by Abaya, I reserve these recommendation for the next Secretary.
It’s a pity the airport is all cramped up and congested when the immediate area around it is (or used to be) owned by Civil Aviation Administration or CAA (now CAAP). The whole area is probably as big as, if not bigger than, Pasay and runs from Pasay to Paranaque to Las Pinas. As usual, squatters have taken over government’s land. Previous administrations, both local and national, have abetted the informal settlers’ intrusion into what was supposed to be danger zones and exclusive areas for aviation activities. A huge part has also been converted to subdivisions and commercial areas.
If that is not possible, a new runway, probably in the reclaimed Roxas Blvd. area and connected by LRT trains to the main terminals which will be dedicated to either arriving or departing traffic exclusively, is needed.-Tongue Twisted.
Tongue, I think the ideal thing is to build airports away from the heavily built up urban area BUT we have to also build connecting trains.
NAIA 3 was supposed to be connected to NAIA 1 and 2 by an underground train but corruption eliminated the train. Now, if you land in NAIA 3 and your flight out of the Philippines is in NAIA 1, you have to take a car or taxi and pass through traffic to take your flight. Anong klaseng airports yan?
My niece and her friends once took advantage of the promo flights of Air Asia in Clark. It was a t 6 a.m.
The first trip of the shuttle van from Quezon City was at 6 a.m. How can they catch up with their 6 a.m. flight. They ended up hiring a car to bring them to Clark very early in the morning. It didn’t turn out cheap. Dapat nagPAL na lang sila.
Our airport woes are endless.
Ideal things don’t happen in ths country, Ellen. An airport is ideal just off the metropolis, but there are a lot of things to consider when moving a whole airport. You need to build all types of hotels befitting every type of traveller, abundant taxi service, Cargo hubs, the works. Why tranfer all of these when all we really need is just one more runway?
Some government corporations and assets were already privatized, the latest of which was the PNR because elected leaders SINCE the toppling of Makoy DID and do not want to take responsibilities and be accountable to the people they promised to serve. Filling their pockets with the people’s money became the first target upon assuming office.
What I fear in the future is NAIA and other airports or maybe seaports might be privatized so that the government will not be blamed for same incompetence trusted men of the Penoy have been displaying since the promotion of his TUWID NA DAAN.
# 11: “……. NAIA 3 was supposed to be connected to NAIA 1 and 2 by an underground train but corruption eliminated the train……..”
NA-UNDER DA TEYBOL na nga ang pondong dapat ay para sa ganitong project, eh.
We are really not only years BUT centuries behind when it comes to governance compared to our neghbors who ONCE envied the Philippines during the early 50’s to mid 70’s.
What we raised lately are leaders good only on election propagandas but suffer loss of memory after getting elected.
Idagdag pa dito ang mga kaliweteng walang alam gawin KUNDI manggulo at magpagulo!
“….compared to our neighbors…..”