THE Manila International Airport Authority
has begun dismantling the shanties put up by illegal settlers at
the end of runway 06 which borders the east service road of
Bicutan, Taguig due to fears of a downgrade by the powerful
Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
The site is where the 1.5 kilometer-long
runway 06-24 "approach lights" are arranged like beacon lights,
visible even in the darkest nights or foul weather and used as
visual guide to pilots.
Some 600 shanties belonging to 1,000 families
have been demolished since last week.
"We have a mandate to relocate the illegal
settlers because their shanties could be used by terrorists to
launch shoulder-fired missiles against aircraft landing and
taking off at the NAIA," said Angel Atutubo, general manager for
security and emergency services.
He said the illegal settlers would be
relocated by the Metro Manila Development Authority (Mmda).
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had
reportedly warned MIAA to remove the shanties or face a
downgrade to Category 2, similar to the fate that befell the Air
Transportation Office (ATO).
In the late 1990’s, FAA, through the TSA,
downgraded the MIAA due to the lack of a perimeter fence which
makes the runway complex vulnerable to the entry of unauthorized
people and even animals.
MIAA is spending P5 billion in a five-year project to
complete the security and safety modernization of the premier
airport. The money would be spent on modern scanning devices,
close-circuit television around the airport complex, X-ray
machines, guns and ammunition, including the upgrading of the
lights and other security set ups. – Jay Chua
