Press Release
March 1, 2018

TRANSCRIPT OF SEN. GRACE POE'S AMBUSH INTERVIEW

Q: (Inaudible)

Sen. Grace Poe: ...now that we have the interest of the private sector to be able to help the government. You know I visited the Cebu airport and they are going to inaugurate the new terminal by GMR-Megawide and I see the promise of that. We have to admit that sometimes with the help of the private sector, we can implement projects faster and especially if the consortium is composed of credible investors. Hopefully more from the Philippines but definitely it has to be somebody with the track record and competence to be able to do this because government is so stretched so we need the investors and the expertise. For as long as there's an agreement that they will not overcharge passengers and there are certain safeguards and guidelines, I think that we should welcome as much interest to be able to rehabilitate NAIA. If these consortiums will be approved by the President, I think that will be welcome to the people and I hope this administration succeeds with its Build, Build, Build program with the help of the private sector.

Q: Are you suggesting na bigyan ng one year sila instead of six months?

Poe: Ayokong magbigay ng arbitrary number. Kahit sila saang terminal ilipat diyan ay puno na ang terminal, puno pa rin at magiging siksikan pa rin. Ang talagang solusyon diyan ay hindi paglilipat ng terminal ng mga ibang airline kundi pageexpand ng NAIA. Kaya nga yung consortium yung gusto ko kasi kung i-expand natin yun, may malulugaran 'di ba hindi lang yung parang nilipat mo sa isang kwarto na masikip dun sa isang kwarto na masikip rin kaya bigyan natin ng mas mahabang panahon na mapagaralan ang maayos na paglilipat kung saka-sakali, definitely, hindi pwede yung 45 days, yung six months ok na rin daw pero para masiguro natin ang kaligtasan at ang convenience ng ating mga mananakay, pwede naman sigurong habaan ng kaunti. Maybe not one year but definitely a little longer.

Q: Sa ngayon ba you see this as feasible, kahit papaano realistic option for now while we are still very congested sa NAIA

Poe: Clark has not just the potential, but also it's there already and we need to be able to move fast when it comes to the development of the Clark airport and connectivity to the main financial districts in Metro Manila. Ako kasi importante yung outward development and I support that. Pero siyempre kailangan muna yung facilities, yung airport transfers--remember mga 100 kilometers ang Clark dito sa Metro Manila so kung ililipat natin ang domestic doon, ang maapektuhan din nito ay yung mga pasahero natin na nagbebenefit dito sa domestic flights at saka low-cost carriers so sila yung middle class at OFW. Mas malaki ang babayaran nila sa interconnectivity kaya bagama't siksikan sa NAIA, mas minsan mas gugustuhin na nila dito kasi nandito na--pero kapag meron na yung natupad na pangako ng administrasyon na interconnectivity--high speed trains, siguro of course we have to consider other airports. May proposal nga sa Bulacan, why not, the more airports that we have, sa ibang bansa ganoon talaga, there's more than one major airport that services a particular metropolitan area.

Q: Sa Subic ma'am

Poe: Also pwede din naman mga cargo.

Q: Yung refund sa mga passengers

Poe: Alam mo marami sa ating mga kababayan, a lot are paying the terminal fees but they don't actually take the flight, entitled kayo sa refund so kung kayo ay nag-fly at di kayo nakasakay sa flight na yun, yung terminal fee na nabayaran na ninyo sa ticket ninyo iyon po ang refundable. Sa isang airline pa lamang P250 million ang unclaimed, sayang naman, kunin po ninyo ang pera ninyo.

Q: Sa emergency powers, ngayon ba ma'am meron nang message sa inyo kung kailangan pa nila yung emergency powers?

Poe: ...definitely I am very supportive of it and I am hoping na ito nga, yung Senado--ang dami nating batas--pero sana ito na nga ang priority; pero iisa lamang ako dito, pero siguro sa tulong ng aking mga kasama ay maipapasa din ito.

Q: No word from Malacanang?

Poe: Sila na lang ang tanungin niyo diyan...

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