Traffic transfer

BRIMMING OPTIMISM. That was the general reaction of local executives, notably the mayor of Angeles City to the prospect of the Clark International Airport as hub of domestic flights, which President Duterte himself broached.

“I personally told the President that [the transfer of domestic flights underscored] and the regional Asian flights to Clark to immediately ease traffic in the short term,” declared Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

And lest he be slammed for self-puffery, the mayor was quick to bring in witnesses to the fact: “Alex Cauguiran reiterated that also to the President when we met him together with Dennis Uy, Simon Paz and Dan Concepcion three weeks ago in the Malacanang of the South in Davao City.”

Pamintuan himself reiterating Cauguiran’s dual airport mantra: “Motorists coming from the North will no longer add up to the volume of vehicular traffic along EDSA. We will have an airport in the north which is Clark and NAIA in the South which will serve passengers south of Metro Manila.”

EDSA, aye, there’s the rub. Which makes this bullishness – in its basic meaning of “confident optimism” – over the projected transfer of domestic flights to Clark no more than gung-ho – in its full meaning of “unthinking enthusiasm.” When tempered with the reality on the ground. Think, boy, think.     

As it is now, Angeles City is already gridlocked in several EDSA pockets, and not only during rush hours: the whole stretch of Pandan Road from MacArthur Highway to the rotunda leading to Marquee Mall and the North Luzon Expressway, all the way to EPZA on the astern fringes of the city; the Balibago stretch of MacArthur Highway up to, aye, even beyond Dau in Mabalacat City; the junction of the Circumferential Road and Angeles-Porac Road, with the heavy volume of dump trucks and school service vehicles.

Even worse are the traffic jams at all ingress-egress points to the Clark Freeport at the Main Gate, to turn worst with Capilion complex and Honda Cars showroom taking over whatever room for road expansion possible; and at the Friendship Gate with its ever-expanding Koreatown.

So, nearing completion now is the Clark east lateral road that will connect the freeport’s Main Gate to the Mabalacat Gate. While traffic volume along MacArthur Highway, particularly in Dau, may be considerably eased with this road, it will only be transferred to its terminus – the Mabalacat Gate leading to a two-lane access to MacArthur Highway in the city’s poblacion area already gridlocked as is, and no space for any expansion. Except to demolish the houses and buildings hemming it.

Now, consider the volume of vehicular traffic domestic flights at Clark will impact upon the roads of Angeles City, and for that matter Mabalacat City.

That Clark makes not only the best twin to NAIA but even its better alternative is a no brainer.

That whatever premium Clark has over NAIA – in scope and scale, from its twin runways to its 2,500-hectare expanse – is being squandered with the continuing contraction of its access is no mere food for thought but cause for action by the government.

There is more than enthusiasm in this talk to transfer the domestic flights to Clark. There has to be change – not just to come but in real time.