The International Chamber of Commerce urged the government to speed up the development of more airports in the country in the light of increasing mishaps, specially at the Manila gateway.
ICC director-general Jesus Varela said the recent lightning alarm at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport should serve as an eye opener to the government and other airport operators.
“Regardless of lightning, they should still operate. Many old and young people were trapped inside the plane that were not delayed but were not allowed to disembark due to lightning. A lot of people got listless and inconvenienced when in fact there are lightning arrests installed on top of the buildings. These are basic requirement to any building construction,” he said.
Varela and several other ICC officials witnessed the incident since they were among the passengers of delayed flights, coming from Macau where they attended an international convention.
Members of the group, he added, were one in saying that the government should rush the approval of new airports that can operate two or three more runways.