ZAMBOANGA CITY - House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabel Climaco (2nd District, Zamboanga City) has sought the intervention of President Aquino in obtaining positive results for the Zamboanga International Airport's long requested facilities and equipment intended to enhance security.
"We appealed to President Aquino for airport facility improvement," she said stressing "safety nets should be in place."
President Aquino, in a teleconference with Climaco and City Mayor Celso Lobregat, assured them that their concerns will be taken up with the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) as soon as possible.
Climaco said local airport authorities have long submitted a list of requests but which were not acted upon by the previous administration.
The request for these necessary facilities were forwarded to the DoTC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) during the time of former President Gloria Arroyo, however, all these were not acted upon.
Airport officials furnished Climaco with a copy of their request with the intention of fast-tracking actions on the same.
The lady solon hoped that the incident at the airport Thursday night would hasten the approval of the long standing requests from the local airport.
Among the facilities being requested are lighting and security equipment that are expected to enhance security and safety of passengers and air transport facilities.
The Thursday blast proved the need to have new closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, lighting equipment such as generator sets and other facilities.
It was learned that Climaco was able to talk with President Aquino few hours after the incident to bring to the chief executive's attention regarding the apparent neglect of the DoTC and CAAP on the requirements and requests of the Zamboanga Airport.
She likewise linked the President to Lobregat where the latter also appraised the Chief Executive about the incident at that same night.
