Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Erosion in the Runway

The Trans Asia Airways

The provincial leaders of Aklan like Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Cong. Joeben T. Miraflores aspire Aklan’s infrastructures to be globally competitive. However, technical people implementing the projects appear less competent.

Take the case of the Kalibo International Airport. Last week, that airport was closed for almost 24 hours after some portions of asphalt overlay was removed from the runway when a plane landed and taxied.

That destruction rendered the airport dangerous to land. Some 1,000 passengers were stranded in Kalibo while another 1,000 Kalibo bound passengers were stranded in Metro Manila.

According to the engineer in charge of the project, the asphalt overly maybe short of glue to make the asphalt as strong to withstand erosion when the plane passes on.

In another incident, a debris went into the engine of the Trans Asia Airways when its plane from Taipei, Taiwan landed in Kalibo International Airport two weeks ago. The pilots didn’t fly the plane back until it was repaired. Some four blades in the engine broke which needed replacement.

The outbound passengers and crew members were stranded in Kalibo. They waited for the plane to be repaired.

The Trans Asia Airways dispatched a plane from Taipei to Kalibo with aircraft mechanics and spare parts. The plane was repaired the following day which departed after 9:00 o’clock in the morning.

According to reliable source, that foreign bodies which damaged the plane engine are debris left the night before while the repair crew worked on the runway.

The carelessness of the engineers working on the Kalibo Airport has resulted to losses to the Airlines and a black eye to the Province of Aklan tourism program.

Is the contractor in the airport development in Kalibo liable to pay the airline companies which suffered damages? Is the building contractor here to maximize profit and sacrifice quality? Are the airline companies which suffered losses entitled to compensation? The contractor must not only pay the damages but must be relieved of the job.

Teacher Pupil Reunion

Officials of the International Federation of the Red Cross, Philippine National Red Cross, and local government units with Sen. Richard Gordon.

Monday, July 20 was a great day for Atty. Filemon C. Fernandez and Sen. Richard Gordon. Gordon was a pupil of Atty. Fernandez at Letran College, Manila. Atty. Fernandez is now the current Barangay chairman of Aliputos, Numancia, Aklan.

Sen. Gordon went to Aliputos to preside in the turn-over ceremonies of the 603 units of houses constructed in Numancia, New Washington, and Kalibo for the victims of typhoon Frank. Beside being a Sen. Gordon is also the chairman of the Philippines National Red Cross which worked for the houses construction financed by the International Federation of the Red Cross.

In his speech, Gordon recalled the many lessons learned from Atty. Fernandez which con-tributed to his successes. Gordon cited the assistance which enabled him to get the gold medal in the Spelling Bee Contest.

Before he concluded his message, Gordon pledged to provide blood bank to Aklan (PNRC, Aklan Chapter) and an ambulance complete with necessary equipment. He also pledged to finance the cementing of a road in Aliputos and repair the buildings of Aliputos Elementary School. /MP