Today is D-day

Today is D-day. The formal inauguration of the new airport in Silay City 's Barangay Bagtic.

That will show us whether there have been adequate preparations for the potential problems that could crop with the opening of the new airport.

The alleged snub of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia got the headlines. But that pales in comparison with the potential problems that could crop up today and must have started since yesterday when the old airport was shut down and the operations of the three major airlines transferred to the P5.6 billion new facility.

The more important consideration, other than the shuttle buses that will serve the new airport, include the taxi rates as well as the commuter jeepneys that will provide transportation from Talisay City or Silay City to the Bagtic site of the airport.

And, yes, there is the problem of the porters of the Bacolod Airport who seem to have lost their livelihood now that the new airport have all the push carts to equip debarking passengers.

And another. Vendors in the old airport have been pining for the day when their problem of livelihood will be attended to.

Of course, they should have been prepared for such a contingency. After all, the airport construction had been going on for sometime. And, by now, they should have the necessary arrangements on what they would have to do to continue with their vending – either in the new airport site or elsewhere.

And, yes, I suppose the airline firms must have provided the shuttle buses needed by personnel to and from the new airport. But how about the other Air Transportation Office personnel? I suppose there must already have been provisions for their transport to and from the Silay airport.

But the more important – how about the average passenger who may not be able to afford the cab fare to and from the new airport which is 20 kilometers away from Bacolod .

Sure, there is going to be a shuttle bus for guests in today's inauguration. But where will this be parked? And is it the only shuttle for the area? If so, how much is the fare?

These are things which the ATO should be able to clarify to the public. We hope they will not delay it further.

We, Filipinos, have been accused of the vice called in the vernacular as “Uyaya.” Well, we hope that's not the case with the ATO on the Silay airport.

***

But while we have our eyes focused on the airport inauguration, we hardly have taken notice of the devilish texting about the demise of Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon.

But we know, and most mediamen of the province are aware of it, that text messages have been filling the airlanes since three days ago with the same message.

Well, that's a devilish joke. Only those in the grip of Satan could nurse such wishes. Nothing is gained by their spreading around the word. Including the one whom mediamen (in our conversations) have been pinpointed as one of the principal origins of the text messages.

God will take care of you soon.

***

Well, kudos to the Parañaque policemen – SPO3 and SPO1 Charlie Bayoga – who persistently followed up leads to the whereabouts of Edmond Locsin, 57, a cashier of the Raymond Pawnshop of Parañaque who disappeared last Jan. 7 with a cash deposit of P1.7 million.

The policemen really must have done their homework well. For, as pointed out, Locsin had four wives, one of them reportedly lives in Sagay City .

The two Parañaque cops reportedly passed themselves off as the suspects' wives who needed money.

Heeding the call of love, Locsin fell into the police trap. He yielded reportedly P1 million of the P1.7 million he had absconded with.

Qualified theft carries a heavy penalty. And that is what Locsin will be charged with, according to the policemen.

***

But while we have our eyes focused on the airport inauguration today, we may have overlooked the two gun battles in Boracay Resort over disputed properties. What is surprising is that one of the gun battles reportedly lasted an hour and stopped only when the Boracay Special Tourism Police stepped in with army reinforcements.

Only one – a former military personnel – was killed. Two others, including a 12-year old boy, were wounded in the encounter.

Regional Tourism Officer Edwin Trompeta downplayed the incidents, pointing out that it happened far from where the tourists converge.

That may be true. But the moment visitors start wondering what happened and whether similar incidents will occur in the future, one can be sure that there will be drop in Boracay visitors.*

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