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MANILA (Updated) -- The tragic death of Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo in a plane crash Saturday prompted calls for government to get new aircrafts to ensure safety of high-ranking state officials during out-of-town trips.
The minority bloc in the House of Representatives said government should spend US$85 million (P3.6 billion) for the purchase of at least six new aircrafts.
Robredo and two pilots died Saturday after a chartered Piper Seneca plane carrying them to Naga City crashed before reaching the airport in Masbate City. The Cabinet official and his party came from Cebu for an official business trip when they met the accident. Robredo's aide, June Paolo Abrazado, survived the crash with only a few injuries.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the government needs at least six new aircrafts—one regional jet, one jet for local travel, two propeller-driven aircrafts (1 Queen Air and 1 King Air), and two helicopters.
"We should not put a tag price in the security of our leaders," he said in a press conference Wednesday.
Suarez said the Airlift Wing of the Philippine Air Force, which has the mandate of providing safe air transport for the President and members of his official family, has a fleet of aircraft and helicopters but most of which are older than Aquino.
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| Beechcraft Queen Air (photo : flugzeuginfo) |
"We are expressing our concern for the safety of the President and his family because, as we are all aware, our country does not have a dedicated Presidential plane and he takes chartered flights for official travel," the close ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said, adding that the new aircrafts will also benefit political leaders after Aquino's term.
Back in August 2009, then President Arroyo reportedly cancelled an order for a presidential jet after the public reacted negatively to the purchase.
Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile, who held Cabinet positions during the time of then President Ferdinand Marcos, saw nothing wrong of the proposal.
"During our time, we attempted to provide the executives of the government, especially those who are travelling often out of Manila, a safe transportation system. We are an archipelago. You traverse jungles and large bodies of water. When you travel by helicopter, if the helicopter crashes in the sea, there is zero survivability," he said in a chance interview.
He said it is normal for the government to receive criticism if and when it pushes through with the plan given other pressing problems such as poverty.
"That is the burden of leadership. You expect criticism because you cannot please everybody when you make a decision," Enrile said.
The House minority bloc also asked the government to immediately review all modes of public transportation following Robredo's death.
(SunStar)
I think the money is better spent upgrading our military equipment such as getting more fighter jets, helos and warships. An alternative option is to give accreditation to selected private charter companies to carry our government officials. Only approved companies are allowed to do government charters of VIPs. However, the President should remain the responsibility of the Presidential Airwing.
ReplyDeleteIt is not so much the mode of transportation but the creation of policy and regulation that governs transport of public officials that is needed. Given that there will be people like Sec Jess who actually has enough conscience not to burden tax payers by picking the bill for his own personal travels, we must protect them from themselves and establish clear rules as to which modes of transportation they are allowed to take. Having said that, the government need not spend on equipment. There are plenty of safe private charterers operating in the country with modern well maintained aircraft and skilled flight crews. The government should pre-approve and restrict use only to these selected charterers. Under no circumstances public officials should be allowed to board training flights even if they were offered for free. We do not need government owned executive aircraft. Spend the money on arming our troops properly.
ReplyDeleteThe house minority bloc are elitists and it is not surprising that they are more vocal of this issue than the ruling party. We don't need a government owned Airbus to transport Government VIPs on regional flights. Money is better spent elsewhere and the use of Flag Carrier aircraft like those operated by PAL is just as safe and cheaper than buying an expensive aircraft that won't be flying as much and will be no more than a hangar queen for most of its life. We have to be realistic people!
ReplyDeleteAnd for heaven sakes, can the government please start pouring funds on upgrading our airspace system with additional navigation stations, better radar coverage, airports with instrument approaches and night capability. If there is an agency that needs an aircraft with a budget to fly it frequently, it would be CAAP. They need money for sorties to conduct flight checks and certifying new instrument approaches. Cebu's ILS has been down since forever, VORs are being turned off at night to save money. Getting new airplanes to fly government officials won't be any safer until they spend to upgrade our nation's airspace system.
ReplyDeleteThe American Marine One Sea King is older than the Black Hawk the Philippine President is flying. They've been trying to replace it with newer aircraft but with their own budget cutbacks, they have not yet gone with it. Maintenance and not age is what determines a safe aircraft. There are new airplanes out there that are more dangerous to fly than older airplanes because the companies that own them have a poor maintenance program to take care of their birds. I don't think our AFP is sloppy with their maintenance and the Helos and Aircraft flown by the Presidential Airwing are just as safe as any well run aviation company or airline out there.
ReplyDeletemaybe not outright the purchase could spread out in 6 years 2 in 2 years then 2 in another year and so on
ReplyDelete