Transparency in
airport transactions

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

There used to be a very folksy saying about “putting the cart before the horse”, and this is what we are reminded of when we listen to the exchanges among local officials about the soon-to-be-inaugurated Bacolod-Silay Airport, which is scheduled to accept the first landing plane on its tarmac on January 18, just a week from now.

There is the terminal building, gleaming under the open sky, looking as modern as tomorrow, with all those hi-tech equipment, facilities and conveniences. There are the workers, all set to process tickets, schedules, whatever else they have to do, to assure convenient travel for passengers from this province and its ten cities.

And the airplanes, big and very advanced ones, giants in the sky, coming from three of the country's airlines, are all set to land and unload their passengers and cargo, and then pick up and carry off what are waiting for transport from here.

But why are those in charge, as well as out local officials still in a flurry over many loose ends that, apparently, had not been take care of while the airport itself was being planned and then constructed?

For one there is the road to the site that, up to the time when the President herself came to look into the new facility, still had not been paved, treating the presidential party to a cloud of red dust as it drove to the area. They say the road problem has been solved, and now it has been noted that the same access road is not yet lighted up.

And what about accessibility, the means of transport for those who do not own personal vehicles, what provisions have been made to service them? As of yesterday, there appeared to be finger-pointing among those supposed to be in charge as to such arrangements. But what has puzzled, and pricked the ears of media people is the fact that nobody seems ready or willing to disclose who are the supposed bidders offering to provide such transport.

Our only question now is: will there be transparency in such bidding, or will it, too, be clouded over by the dust out there so we will only know who the lucky one is when it's all fait accompli?*