PRESIDENT Duterte on Saturday apologized for his “outburst” and joke to blow up the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last year at the height of the congestion problems hounding the airport.
He said he was trying to sort out the “crisis” at the time he made the joke on asking Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to blow up the NAIA runway.
“I’d like to apologize for my outburst nuon (at that time) … simply because there was really a crisis… And so, sabi ko kay Art … itong NAIA na ito, para wala na tayong problema, paputukin mo na lang ‘yung runway tapos doon na kayo lahat sa Clark mag-landing’ (And so, I told Art… this NAIA, blast its runway so we will not have any problem. Do the landing at Clark [International Airport]),” the President said during the inauguration of the Sangley Airport Development Project and presentation of the Sangley Point International Airport Project in Cavite City on Saturday.
Duterte recalled it was during the crisis that the use of Sangley airport to reduce the air traffic at NAIA was suggested.
He said he gave Tugade then until the end of 2019 to complete the project, which the latter did.
“Look whatP700 million can do in the hands of a competent, a bright… Ilocano ‘to. Kuripot na (He is Ilocano and a cheapskate),” said the President as he lauded his former classmate at the San Beda College of Law.
Duterte said he intends to make use of the Sangley airport, and is planning to take his last flight as President from thereto his hometown in Davao.
The P486-million Sangley Airport Development Project is one of the key projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” Program.
The SADP was supposed to be completed in March 2020, but construction was fast-tracked following the President’s directive. The project was completed in November last year.
The facility, which is fully operational, is being used for general aviation operations. Proponents said the facility can cater to the needs of turbo-prop aircraft engaged in commercial cargo operations.
Under the project, a new terminal building was constructed to accommodate 160 passengers. The terminal building is equipped with a flight information display system, closed circuit television (CCTV), x-ray, baggage handling, and weight conveyor.
