Puerto Princesa International Airport

Paalala at babala: some terms or topics in this story are too technical. Baka ma-nosebleed ka!

A new terminal building, a new location, the same runway. This reminds me of the Davao International Airport - the terminal building was "transferred" to the other side of the runway! Is this a trend? Maybe!

Is anything wrong with that? Not for us the travelers, I think. If ever it did/may adversely affect people, they would probably have been those who do business/work at or with the airport. Like ground crews.

Arrival.
Anyway, here are my notes on the new airport. As said in the previous story, I arrived at it like this..,

And I said "It's new yes, though not really that big. There are even no aerobridges". Thus, to the arriving passenger, getting off the plane and reaching the terminal building is still the same process as before.

Meaning, you still go down the plane via airstairs, and walk on the tarmac to reach the arrival area.

If anything, as far as we the passengers are concerned, chances are it'll be a longer walk than before. Why? Because there is now a wider tarmac - good for 6 planes - while the old one was only good for 3.

Meaning, there's more leeway for planes to park, so they can come altogether 6 at a time. Thus, if your plane isn't first to get space, it'll park farther, then 'cadillakad' ka to the end of the building since andun si domestic arrival! The pic above was halfway from plane to the domestic arrival area when I clicked!

While walking (to domestic arrival area), I looked far to my left, and saw the 'departure wing'..,

It looks nice, right? If you still have good eyesight, you should be able to discern there are passengers, some in yellow umbrellas, crossing from the gate to their plane. Maganda naman, diba? Aesthetically!

That space without "grills" in the blue-colored part (center of photo) is the inernational arrival area.

This is more on 'form than function'. For (new) airports today, to still obligate passengers to walk from the gate to/from the plane, would espouse the definition of "barbaric". Hello, 21st century na! Imagine that same scene above, 'tas biglang umulan ng malakas meron pang kulog at kidlat. What can we do?

Remember this: passenger "safety & security", "comfort & convenience". Is that safe and secure? Not very much because that is a driveway that the passengers are crossing. Yes, dyan dumadaan lahat na land vehicles inside the tarmac. Remember the "traffic" of criss-crossing humans and vehicles that is always present at Manila Terminal 4 pagka-labas mo ng gate? Ganun! It may be 'secure' but not 'safe'.

Aandar naman si selfie-generation... "it's okay lang, at least we can make selfie or groupfie pa before making akyat to the plane"! Ang masasabi ko lang... "not all times you ride a plane is 'making pasyal".'

Is it comfortable and convenient? I'm sure not for many. Even if we say the airlines provide umbrellas, having an aerobridge is still better than stairs - especially for the children, elderly and bulky "we men".

Oh ha? Wala akong sibaning "malalaki o malalusog na mga babae" ha? Ang sabi ko "we men" hehehe!

Therefore, on that aspect of the airport, I like it (maganda eh) but I'm not too happy (crude kasi).

Oops, why did we go to departure? I was still arriving, right? Okay, so I 'arrived' at the new terminal..,

That's the "Baggage Carousel". Nice, it's long and low. Successive flights can use them all at the same time (I guess), as there's ample space for passengers to wait for their luggage. There are 3 ha? Whoa!

Oist, I learned something new! I got curious with that row of logos on the edge of the conveyor belt. It looked like a row of ads, but of unfamiliar brands. So I googled them: one is "Kumho E&C", the other is "GS E&C". Aha! Both are construction firms! So, I deduced, this airport was built by Koreans. Joh-eun!

I said "good" (joh-eun), but I will qualify that with 아주 좋은하지 (not very good)! The point is, from the point of view of a humble passenger (yes, humble ako!) gagawa ka na rin lang ng bagong airport, why design and build it na parang pang-1950s ang ergonomics? Unless it's a make-shift (temporary) thing.

Well okay, this arrival baggage claim area is good and modern, but why no aerobridges? Hmm, sige na nga, ako na rin ang sasagot sa tanong ko (in behalf of our K Friends).., "eh we only built what you want kaya"! I'm sure yun ang sasabihin nila - which is true naman. They only do what our authorities require.

Authorities nga mga manol! Kay ang damgo sang manol, manol man e!

As we all know, our K-Friends are "hi-tech" and principled partners. But of course, kung ang hinihingi ni Juan eh bisekleta, ba't nila ipag-du-duldulan ang polopokter, di ba? That's the analogy I'm getting here!

Hoy teka, principled pala ha? Back to those "ads", does it say in the contract that Kumho and GS 'shall' paint their logos on those conveyor belts? If they're paying for it, fine. If not, those should be removed.

It's a 'valuable-enough' ad space that can be sold to outfits like luggage, transport or funeraria brands!

Hah, ano ba pinagsasasabi ko. Tara let's proceed! Hey, seriously, I liked this baggage claim area. If you noticed, Belt #3 at the end is 'enclosed'. Ah I do not have to ask, that is surely for international arrivals. Ayun ang pinto nila, yun maliwanag sa dulo. So, 2 conveyor belts for domestic, and 1 for international.

Here's another picture at the arrival area, where passengers walk from baggage claim to the lobby..,

Nice 'no? Maaliwalas from natural light filtering through those windows and even the roof. I like it!

I do think this arrival area is still a little too small for a Puerto Princesa kind of airline passenger traffic - whether for now or in the future. I heard that as of now, this airport serves an average of 20 flights in a day. Note: when I took that pic, Carousel #1 was to my left. So that is basically the whole claim area.

And this was as I exited (with other passengers) out of the arrival lobby unto the arrival curbside..,

Nothing much to do with the airport's building this time, but I spotted some questionable things in this scene. Questions about our culture as Filipinos - how good as human beings are we, really? And in the end, I'll still say "until now, airports are made and operated without considering our culture" -the above scene is proof! And I say "nabago na ang airport at lahat, pero ang mga pangit na ugali ayaw baguhin"!

Ano yung culture culture na yan? Na-intriga ka ba?

Let's not make it long, but I'll tell you one! Look at the blue arrow, that roofed area across the building. That is THE well-wisher's area or meeting area (whatever you might want to call it). Basta, kung saan "lang pwede" magharap si pasahero at si hindi pasahero. But look at the red arrows, ba't sila andyan?

Kung bawal, bawal dapat - sa lahat. Without exception. So, bakit nga ba sila lang ang nandyan at yung iba andun patiently waiting sa tamang lugar? Pinalusot? Nag-lagay? Me kapit? Kultura na talaga natin!

Bakit ba ako nanggagalaiti? Eh, they confuse the arriving passengers. I for one, started looking for my resort's representative who was to fetch me. Hindi ko makita. Only to find out nandun pala sila sa blue arrow. Dalawa pa sila (as there were a number of us arriving via different flights). When I asked bakit wala sila dun sa bungad just like that woman na nakadikit ang mukha sa glass, they said "bawal dun".

Bawal pala, bakit yun mga nasa red arrow nandun? Kultura nga natin eh - na nakakahiya!

And that's not easy to solve (kasi nga kultura na). But if you designed your airport while aware of such cultural nuances (or anomalies), eh di walang ganyang nakakalito na me nakiki-"waiting area" sa lugar na hindi naman waiting area! Good architects know that. Aba.., don't dare me, dahil do-drawingan kita!

Actually, I have seen airports that avoid that kind of situation. Example? Manila's Terminal 2 and 3 - all of us can wait at the lobbies -because they were designed to be enormous. Sabi siguro nung designer "ah ganun pala culture nyo ha, eto malaking lobby, dyan kayo lahat maghintay, aircon na me upuan pa!

Otherwise, don't make any space na hindi naman gagamitin, so yung tatlong nasa red arrow will have nowhere to go, kahit nakalusot pa sila! Example is Manila Terminal 4. Dahil kalsada na after the door, you won't have anywhere to stand waiting, kahit nakalusot ka pa. Try it, either matatapakan ka lang ng mga porter and arriving passengers or mapagkakamalan kang magnanakaw tatayutayo among them!

Here's a photo when I already found my hotel rep (he met another two of my friends from MNL),

That roofed area behind them is not a walkway. Hehe, that is "already" the waiting area pointed by the blue arrow in the previous picture! Why is it so? Culture ng Pinoy, dyan lang maghintay ang mga alipin!

Let's go back to the red arrows where the three 'palusot' are standing, two of them are even near three policemen (did you see that?). What do you need such a big covered area for eh bawal nga dyan kahit ang hotel representatives eh. Para sa mga papalusutin? Make that 'public area' big and comfy instead.

Anyway.., let's see more of the 'outside' of this new Puerto Princesa International Airport, shall we?

Viewed from the parking lot across the arrival wing, this is how the building looks like..,

And from where I stood (where the resort's vehicle was parked) I could also see the departure wing..,

Here's a wider view of the terminal, with legit tourist transport vehicles at the parking area..,

Elsewhere at the parking area, white sedan in the middle is a real taxi (I think they started in 2015)..,

Yes I've heard about yellow (airport) taxis but I haven't tried them. Aren't they orangy or gold? [laugh]!

But the reason I took that pic was not the yellow taxis, but the thing at right and the signage at center.

Here they are - a whole platoon of them, waiting for passengers AT THE AIRPORT! I almost clapped!

I felt so happy and truly proud of Puerto Princesa (City Government yan for sure, and not CAAP) when I saw those trikes. With that picture, I wanted to shout in the faces of the many airports in this country (actually that's about almost all of them) who do not allow tricycles and even jeeps at their doorsteps!

More accurately, gusto kong isampal ang picture na yan sa lahat ng mayors and CAAP officials, while asking again "ano ba kasi ang problema nyo sa tricycle or jeep or bus at ayaw nyo palapitin sa airport nyo"? Howsoever you look at them, they are legitimate modes of public transportation in this country that majority of people ride. Our issue (need) is ease of connectivity without spending bags of money.

Security? Then prevent a threat without curtailing your mode of transport. Unfortuantely, pinag-iisipan yan hoy! Well, meron ba kayo nyan? Aren't leaders supposed to have brains (and hearts) for the many?

Kung me langgam sa mangga, itatapon mo na lang ba ang mangga? Di ka na lang kakain ng mangga? Eh hindi naman bulok ang mangga. Ikaw ang bulok! Thus, focus your "isip salita at gawa" sa langgam!

Hindi daw sosyal ang tricycle. Bakit, sosyalan ba ang airport? How does being "sosyal" help a country, anyway? Sabagay, India is like that too. Kesyo bawal ang rickshaw (tuk-tuk) sa airport, sa 5-star hotel and other 'sosyal' places. Dispalinghadong kultura. Kaya yun, sila at tayo, sandamakmak ang hikahos!

Wait, before this 'discourse' go too far, Dear Mayors, Sanggunian and all of CAAP, look at how Puerto Princesa is able to let tricycles operate AT their airport - na walang overpricing. Sige na lang, limasin nyo (na naman) ang IRA at kaban ng bayan para sa "Lakbay Aral", makita at matutunan nyo lang yan!

Remember: 1) Tricycles are a legitimate (meaning legal) mode of transport patronized by the majority of citizens. Konti lang po kayong mga naka-kotse at hinahatid-sundo ng red plated vehicles sa airport. 2) Tricycles are an attraction, especially to the foreign tourists. It's one snippet to the locality's culture.

Again, I applaud, congratulate and am very proud of Puerto Princesa's airport tricycles!

Let's proceed with my "travel story" hahaha! I saw this "bahay kubo" also at the parking area..,

The signage says "Tourist Asssitance Center"! Nice native touch to an otherwise modernistic western kind of development. And look at the corner, there is even a prominent silvery good-looking trash can!

I hope that little hut is being used legitimately as a real Tourist Assistance Center. Eh those I saw were like drivers na nakatambay. Sorry na if you were real tourists or police (na mukhang sanggano) heheh! Naloko na kasi ako sa Guimaras, at sa loob ng Government Office Building yun, hindi lang basta kubo!

Alright, after that last 'sighting', we were out of the airport and our resort's vehicle brought us on 'more than an hour' road trip to Astoria Palawan. I heard from the driver, this was a 60+km distance from the airport. But I rarely looked where we passed. Got busy re-connecting with fellow passengers. Reunion!

Anyway, since the new airport is our topic, let's talk about my departure notes from earlier today, after three days at Astoria Palawan and nearby villages. Yep, we didn't even visit the city center. Hectic fun!

Departure.
We just breezed through the check-in area because of 2 things: 1) We were all already web-checked-in and 2) Our host and one classmate did things so we didn't even have to wait at the check-in counters!

But of course I at least glanced around the check-in area. It reminds me of the Iloilo Airport's Check-in Counters and/or CDO. Meaning it does not have a spacious area like that of Davao. One thing good at the PPS check-in counters though is: the glass wall at right is bare, so the check-in area is cozy bright.

But after check-in, Puerto Princesa is different from ILO, CGY or DVO since you do not climb any stairs or escalators to go to a pre-departure waiting lounge or the boarding gates. Just walk left, that's it na!

This was my first picture at the departure area - a 'tindahan' above the boarding gate's waiting area.

So meron palang taas? Ba't naman ako napadpad dun of all places? Eh, dun me tindahan at konti tao!

Ah, let me describe this a little further. Looking at this building from the outside (landside or airside) it looks like the departure and arrival operations happen on two levels. Mataas kasi ang building. But no, it does not. Everything is done at ground level. If you face the building from the parking area, arrival is at left, departure is at right. Just like how it was at the old airport (and many old airports everywhere).

After check-in, you enter the departure gates, there are the usual seats shared by all gates, and there's some kind of mezzanine or loft or ledge area at the back accessible by stairs (medyo mataas sya ha)!

That is the view if you are seated in that makeshift restaurant tindahan kainan coffeeshop whatever in the previous pic above. You can see the boarding gates, and at least two planes at the tarmac - if any!

If you stand at the edge of that ledge, this is the interesting view.., pang-people-watching!

This 'top-view' of all those passengers waiting is amusing (especially for the tsismoso like me hehe)! Oh, people watching pala ha? As I stood taking those pictures, can you believe nakita ko kapatid ko si **tao, waiting for their flight to MNL? We both didn't know we were both in Palawan! Yes, ganun kami ka-close haha! Well, having our own families, we don't anymore 'tell' everyone about everything, right?

I should say this "viewdeck" is really good for people watching hehehe!

What really is the 2nd floor for? I can't think of a reason other than 'wala lang'! But it's a pretty vantage while having a meal or snacks and/or coffee and/or the 'walang kamatayang' cup noodles. Malay nyo baka makita nyo rin kapatid nyo (OMG 'wag naman asawa) nasa baba while you watch from up there!

By the way, there are flight information displays (previous pic), you can hear the announcements, plus all (four) gate activities can be seen from up there. So there's very little chance of you missing a flight.

Gates 2 and 3 are in the middle of the picture. Gate 1 is partly hidden under that structure (offices?) at left, and Gate 4 is also only partly seen at right edge of the pic, on the other side of the glass partition.

This got me thinking though.., just 3 gates for domestic flights and just 1 gate for international flights out of Puerto Princesa? Isn't that too small? Google agad! OMG wow! All the more that I thought: this new airport structure must be temporary or just a first of many phases. Projections exceed capacity!

I learned that this structure was built (2015~2017) for a projected capacity of 2 million passengers a year. But statistics say, there were already 1.5M in 2015, and in 2016, 1.6M passengers. Therefore, by the time this was opened, maybe that capacity was already breached! Hahaha, ano, gawa uli ng bago?

Maybe there is a next phase in this development. Reason probably why I see some weird structures!

Charging Station. O di ba? Hwag ka nang maghanap ng kung anu-ano, basta pwede mag-charge dyan, period! Hehehe this is a new airport and apparently no one planned for this to have charging stations!

It looks like sinabi lang ni manager "oist ikaw bata, kuha ka nga ng apat na extension cords, ilagay mo sa lumang mesa galing sa old building, para naman meron tayong "charging station". "Tapos ikaw hija, mag-print ka ng CHARGING STATION sa isang bond paper, i-scotch-tape mo sa wall". Ayun, solved na!

I really think this airport I was seeing was/is not yet final hehehe. They're still constructing. Look!

Sige tumawa ka... mamaya dadating si airport manager, baka masabihan ka pa ng "why are you laugh, I'm not joke"! Okay na yon, "seat" and "sit" sound alike naman, di ba? "Don't English me, I'm not school"!

Hey, I watched boarding of flights departing before mine. I think minsan, the problem is us people..,

This was Air Asia flight to MNL, boarding at Gate 2. Eh I heard the announcements, sabi 2 lines. Asan?

While at Gate 3, Philippine Airlines also flying to MNL, this was how people approached the gate. Pila.

Palaisipan ito! I wish some academics would do social experiments on this. Kapag mura ba ang ticket na binili/nabili mo, hindi ka na maayos pumila? Or are there other hypotheses evading my lowly brain?

Anyway, when my flight to Cebu was boarded, the coast was clear hehe. Not so many people..,

So I had time to appreciate this new structure more, because it was a far and lengthy walk. How far?

Well, if you're unlucky, it could be as far as 200 meters. Look at those people, behind them is Gate 1.

That's where Cebu Pacific boards its flights. But our plane was parked at the other end of the terminal (behind camera), so mahaba-habang lakaran. But this time, I didn't mind because it was a gloomy day.

I did still observe other things that can be improved. Ano ba yan, aalis na lang me angal pa rin? Heheh yes meron, kung sa ika-hihinahon ng ating paglalakbay and if it'll make our airports truly "world class"!

There is an issue on assigning of passenger boarding gates versus aircraft parking bays. It is not that simple an activity, in case you do not know yet. The issue - it is obvious that with the kind of setup this airport has, departing and arriving passengers will be criss-crossing each other when they walk about.

While it may not be "illegal", it is against standard procedures of the international aviation community. Why? Because it can be the source of a safety and security risk - even on domestic flights. How much more if there are international flights involved? In Puerto Princesa, just a glance, I know its happening.

What's happening? The sitation where arriving passengers, on the way to arrival area from their plane, cross the path of departing passengers going to their plane, after emerging from their boarding gate.

You can search this new airport online, you'll see photos and videos as proof na nagsasalubong sila!

Problema ba yun? Yes! Examples would be: 1) people can "pass" or "switch" contrabands, documents or illegal items, or 2) they can even 'switch themselves' undetected for various unscrupulous reasons.

O ano, parang James Bond movie lang ba? But, those are realistic scenarios ("probablities") that may or could affect the ratings of an airport or even the country. If there was an aerobridge, no issue sana!

So what causes the criss-crossing of passengers here? Katamaran ng mga taga airline! Really?

Ganito yan... if you observe the passenger gates, they like permanently declared it as Gate 1 pag Cebu Pacific, Gate 2 kung Air Asia, at Gate 3 pag PAL. How can we say that? Just look at the gates anytime, you will see andun mga gamit nila permanently. Parang kanila yung gate. Aba, pati si Air Juan, meron!

Why has it become like that? Well, tinatamad nga yung mga taga airline, that every flight they'll have to haul those sign boards, ads, etc., to the gate, then haul them away after the flight - which is supposed to be the standard. But no one requires them to display logos, banners, ads, reminders and all. The TV monitor at the gate is enough, all reminders should be in the ticket and booking, or recited at check-in!

If they insist on displaying things during their flights, to the extent na parang palengke na si gate, they should remove all those upon departure of their flight. They do not own any gate, so they cannot insist to use the same gate all the time, such that they can leave their paraphernalia there. Bawal dapat yan.

Bakit sila pinayagan na ganun? Friends nila si CAAP eh - na hindi rin alam ano repercussions nyan!

Ano nga ba ang repercussion, aber?
Ayun na nga, my flight to Cebu boarded at Gate 1 dahil Cebu Pacific. But the plane was told to park at the farthest parking bay, at opposite end of the tarmac! Look at the photo above again. Ganun kalayo.

Repercussion 1: Long walk for passengers. Walang comfort & convenience. Not a friendly gesture!

Repercussion 2: If another flight arrived while we were boarding, magsasalubong kami mga pasakay and those who were arriving. Not good for the "safety and security" of passengers, airline and airport!

Repercussion 3: If there was another flight at gate 2 or 3 that also started boarding (e.g., if Air Asia or PAL was delayed), paglabas ng pasahero nila sa gate, kagulo na with us! Magkakawalaan na! Masaya!

This is the other end of the building. My plane was parked even farther left than this point!

Good that no flight arrived while we were walking hehehe. But I saw that it happened earlier (PAL and Air Asia flights) and just looking at daily flight schedules, I could see it happening everyday. Not good!

You can't tell control tower naman to only assign Cebu Pacific flights to parking bays across Gate 1, Air Asia sa tapat ng Gate 2 and so on. Because, flights do not / cannot always arrive/depart on time.

There's a solution to every problem though!

The easiest way around this issue, is to assign airlines (an hour before a flight) to boarding gates that would avoid or minimize the above negative scenarios. At an hour before ETD, the turn-around aircraft (the on-coming flights) would have already departed from their origin stations, so tower would already have a plan what bay to put them into. Only then should a final gate be given by the airport authorities.

Besides, the airline's gate people only show up at 45 or 40 minutes before ETD, di ba?

Example in my above flight, we should have been boarded at Gate 3, since our plane was too far to the right. But, while we walked, if another plane arrived, hindi kami magsasalubongan nung pasahero nila!

It is easier said than done by the way. You have to use mathematics (even automated planning tools) to do that. Yet, there will still be times when the criss-crossing of passengers will be unavoidable. But they won't be predictable, making it hard for masasamang loob to execute their masasamang gawain!

See? All because there are no aerobridges and there are lazy airline employees! In fact, all around the world, when an airport is not dedicated to a single airline, gates cannot also be dedicated to them. It's not as easy as "dito nalang kami palagi magbo-boarding ha". Ito naman si airport basta ye-yes nalang.

Me science yan oi! In fact, even at airports that have aerobridges the criss-crossing thing still happens and their authorities seriously look at plans and technical data, to avoid them - example: how long will the passenger walk! That's how they ensure safety, security, comfort and convenience. I should know, ako titser nila eh! And one veery bad example I always use is: CEB T1 Gate 5. But, that's another story!

OMG, nag-lecture na! Ano ito airport operations 101?

Okay final na, I still like the form of this new Puerto Princesa International Airport. As to its function, I have a strong feeling the thing we see now is not yet the end-state. Because I see a number of flaws.

BUT, amidst my so many angals, I said to my self... "okay na 'to, kesa naman yung Tacloban 'no?"

And that's also another story. Saka na 'yan hehehe!