Press Release - Chiz renews call for aviation terminal amid Alice Guo's departure

Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero on Wednesday renewed his call for the establishment of a general aviation terminal in the Philippines, pointing to the ease with which individuals, like dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, can slip in and out of the country without undergoing the standard inspections by customs and immigration officials.

In an interview on the sidelines of the 30th Defense and Sporting Arms Show at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Escudero expressed his long-standing frustration over the country's aviation infrastructure, a concern he has repeatedly highlighted during budget deliberations.

"Matagal ko nang sinisingil ang CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] at DOTr [Department of Transportation] kaugnay sa kawalan natin ng general aviation terminal mula nang inimbento ang airport sa Pilipinas," Escudero said, underscoring the gap in the system that allows the wealthy to bypass the usual checks that ordinary citizens face.

He explained that without a general aviation terminal, individuals with private planes can bypass standard procedures, including inspections by customs and immigration, making it easier for them to travel in and out of the country undetected.

Escudero pointed out that currently, those with private planes simply go to their hangars, have their passports stamped, and proceed to their private lounges before boarding their planes.

"Sa ngayon, sinumang may private plane, iyong mga mayayaman, ay pupunta lamang sa hangar nila, ipapadala ang passport nila, papatatakan, pupunta sila sa lounge nila at sasakay na sa eroplano para umalis. Pag-landing pabalik ng Pilipinas ganun ulit," Escudero lamented, illustrating how the absence of a general aviation terminal creates a privileged escape route for those who can afford it.

With San Miguel Corporation (SMC) set to play a significant role in the country's aviation industry starting September 20, Escudero is set to seek the establishment of a general aviation terminal.

He noted that SMC plans to convert the nation's oldest airport terminal into this much-needed facility, a move that Escudero believes could finally close the loophole.

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