Palawan airport too hot for tourists and athletes

The Department of Transportation and Communication is Hard put to cool down the airport terminal in Puerto City and fast track its long-awaited expansion as passengers arrive in droves for the summer and the 2008 Palarong Pambansa.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said airline passengers had been complaining of the intense heat at the terminal which has resulted in one death.

Hagedorn said he visited the airport on Saturday and it was much hotter inside than outside like an “oven”.

The weather bureau’s five-day foregoing cast for Puerto Princesa puts the temperature at an average of 28.9 degrees Celsius.

“The city government is not the one running the airport, it is the national government. But we are concerned because it affects the city’s visitors. We are hosting the Palarong Pambansa for the first time and we do not want the young athletes to suffer Tourists are saying we have a beautiful city with good facilities except the airport. This could affect tourism in the long term if the problem persists” Hagedorn said.

On April 4 at 11a.m., Wilmie Fetisanan, who was set to board an Air Philippines flight with his wife, collapsed while lining up to check in. An airline official rushed him to the provincial hospital where he was resuscitated. At 10a.m. on April 9, Dominador Rhoque had to disembark from a departing Cebu Pacific aircraft after suffering from high blood pressure due to intense heat at the airport.

One hour later, Department of Education Regional Director Veronica Aquino had to helped out of a departing Philippine Airlines plane for the same reason.

Both passengers caught later flights after their physical conditions improved.

But the worst case happened this year.

On January 7, 2008 at around 11a.m. Eufracia Calixto went to airport rest room while waiting to board her Air Philippines flight. She collapsed from the heat and was rushed to the medical Mission Group Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The situation at the airport terminal has become worrisome as 11,000 athletes are starting to pour into Puerto Princesa City for the Palarong Pambansa set for April 20 at the recently refurbished Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex.

Education and sports officials and other guests would further boost air passenger traffic.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sunday-April 13, 2008)