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Aquino dismayed by PPA failure to improve ports


President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he was dissatisfied over the Philippine Ports Authority’s failure to implement improvements in the country’s port system. In an interview with reporters after inspecting Pier 2 in Manila’s North Harbor and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, the President said he saw the ‘weaknesses’ in the port system which he noticed since two months ago. “Nakita ko yung problema dito two months ago. Medyo nandito na tayo sa Holy Week wala pang kumikilos at hindi ako natuwa," the President said. He warned PPA officials that they have to suffer the consequences if they will fail to act on the improvements he wanted to be implemented. “Pinaalala ko din na kayo ang nakatalaga, kayo ang may responsibilidad. Kung may mangyari at hindi n’yo ginawa ‘yung dapat n’yong gawin, pasensiyahan tayo," Aquino said. He, however, refused to mention the ‘weaknesses’ as it might invite bad elements to target the ports. “May mga dapat diagram for instance mga… Parang nag-aalanganin ako sabihin ngayon dahil parang sinabi na rin natin dun sa mga may masasamang balak kung ano ‘yung weaknesses. Pi-noint out ko na lang dun sa PPA ‘yung mga nahanap natin na dapat i-improve," he said. Aquino said he asked the PPA to submit their recommendations to improve their quality of service to the people. He will wait for the recommendations and vowed to immediately act on it, but the President said he does not want to tell the PPA what it should do. During his visit, Aquino was accompanied by Transportation Secretary Jose De Jesus, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang and Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. North Harbor rehab At the North Harbor, Richard Barclay, chief executive officer of the Manila North Harbor Port Inc. gave the President a briefing on the port’s modernization project — a radical plan to change the face of the existing harbor to bring it on par with other commercial harbors. The plan includes dredging, upgrading of passenger terminal facilities and the procurement of quay container cranes. The Manila North Harbor Modernization Project will take 25 years to complete at a cost of P17 billion. Later on, at the NAIA 3, the President inspected the airport’s operations and security preparations. He told airport officials to heighten their state of preparedness during the Lenten season even without direct instructions from him Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado briefed the President on passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures. Around 1,500 passengers, airport personnel and security officials were at present when Aquino dropped by on Wednesday. — VS, GMA News

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