(Airline companies set up desks in front of the departure area of the airport to address concerns of distraught passengers. Photos by Ashley Manabat)
CLARK FREEPORT – A total of 108 international and domestic flights have remained suspended at the Clark International Airport here since Monday’s earthquake, stranding at least 1,500 passengers as of yesterday.
But Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president Jaime Melo, in a press conference at the airport’s departure area yesterday morning, said partial airport operations could resume Wednesday.
He said structural engineers from the CIAC, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) finished Tuesday morning their inspection that revealed no damage to the airport’s two runways and taxiway. The tower also did not have any significant damage.
“I hope that partial operations could resume Wednesday despite the damage to the passenger terminal, particularly at the check-in area where the ceiling had collapsed. We can look for another site for temporary check in counters,” Melo said.
Among the 1,500 stranded passengers was Mercy Canay, 22, of Taguig, who was buried by a collapsed ceiling at the check-in area. She sustained gashes on her left cheek and right hip when the ceiling fell on her, but she was able to extricate herself from the debris and run outside the terminal.
“I later retrieved by baggage which was already damaged, but I could no longer find my passport,” Canay told Punto! in an interview yesterday morning after spending the night on a bench in front of the passenger terminal. She said she was bound for Dubai on an Emirates flight. She said she would stay on at the terminal after she was told by airport officials she could be scheduled for alternative flight via Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The CIAC announced a 24-hour suspension of flights at the airport, starting from 7:40 p.m. last Monday.
Melo said seven passengers sustained minor injuries during the earthquake at the terminal, although he said that apart from collapsed ceiling, the integrity of the other vertical and horizontal structures at the terminal seemed reliable. He said, however, that engineers still had to finish their inspection to assess damage and reliability of the terminal.
Another passenger, Jojo Abalos, 43, said he opted to go back to his family in Pangasinan amid lack of assurance of when he could take his aborted flight to Davao City where he was employed.
Philippine Airlines personnel Romalyn Garces, who manned one of the passenger information desks set up at the Clark airport’s main terminal, said passengers were assured of either refund or rebooking of flights.
“The passengers arrive here but had to be told flights have been suspended. All of them are disappointed but seemed to understand that the situation arose from a natural cause no one wanted to happen,” she said.
In a joint statement yesterday, the CDC and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority reported “zero casualties in Clark as technical teams conduct a continuing assessment of the situation since the 6.1-magnitude earthquake badly hit Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon.”
Shelters
“CDC has also designated temporary shelters for travelers and tourists who might be affected by the closure of operations of Clark International Airport (CRK) and may not be able to afford to stay at the hotels. These include the Training Center at HSD, the pavilion at Bicentennial Park, the Philippine Air Force Gym, and the Clark Parade Grounds. Provisions of water and food are also being provided for these shelters,” it said.
The BCDA reported that there has been “no damage at the ongoing construction of the new Clark International Airport New Terminal Building, as well as facilities at the New Clark City Phase 1—which includes the government center and the sports stadium, the aquatics center, athletes’ dormitory which are being readied for the SEA Games this November.”
