Press Release
August 20, 2018

Trancript of interview with Sen. Cynthia Villar
(Boracay rehab, NAIA paralysis, Duerte's health)

Q: Matagal nang sara ang Boracay pero 30% pa lang ang compliant, worth it ba ang pagsara ng Boracay?

Villar: I think maganda iyong kanilang infrastructure in terms of roads and drainage. May problema doon sa wastewater. Tingin ko, medyo namamahalan yata sa halaga ng wastewater treatment kaya medyo hesitant sila na kumonek. Sabi ko, kailangang gumawa sila ng policy na magbibigay ng discount, o ibaba at least para ma-encourage ang mga tao to connect. Kasi I don't think kung iyong target na 30% that's a very good target, masyadong mababa. Ibig sabihin noon, kapag hindi ka kumonek, hindi ka pwedeng magbukas sa October 26. So with this, halimbawa 30% ngayon, madadagdagan, maybe maganda nang target itong 50% will open on October 26. Pero tinatanong ko sa kanila kung 50% will open on October 26, mas maganda pa iyon para sa Boracay kahit kalahati sarado because they did not comply with the wastewater requirement.

Q: Hindi maganda ang implementation...

Villar: If I am the one, but of course I am not the one implementing. This is an oversight function. I was telling them that if there is hesitation on the part of the people to connect because they find it expensive, then maybe we can devise some sort of a policy, baka gusto naman nilang mag-devise ng policy,para ma-encourage ang people to connect para mas maraming maka-open sa October 26.

Q: Hindi na mae-extend ang closure?

Villar: Hindi na. Too much na iyon. They are willing to open at 30%... Okay lang sa kanila hindi mag-comply kasi di nila magbubukasin but is that really the intention na 30% ang magbukas? For me, masyadong mababa iyon.

Q: On NAIA paralysis

Villar: It's something that we cannot do something about. It's an accident but ang nakikita mo doon, we don't have enough airport facilities para kung may mangyaring ganyan, ida-divert mo lang. Wala tayong diversion. Like for example, dalawa ang runway ng NAIA, dahil iyong for international na-disable because of that Xiamen Airline, and then ang nagamit lang is iyong ating domestic runway , iyong pang maliit na eroplano. So nakita mo na kulang. Iyong iba dinivert sa Clark pero hindi pa rin enough. May hesitation for people to go to Clark. I think this is a longterm problem of our airport. Iyong dalawang runway ay talagang hindi pwede.

Q: Wake up call ba iyon? Kailangan magdagdag na tayo ng paliparan?

Villar: Yes. I think there is a move na iyong Sangley kasi iyong Sangley medyo ayos naman iyon, iimprove lang. And of course, Clark.

Q: Hindi kayo nabagalan sa naging response ng MIAA?

Villar: I listened to their interview, parang sinasabi nila it's better safe than sorry. You have to be careful kasi baka mamaya nagmadali ka na ipagamit ang airport, tapos may nadisgrasya na naman in the process, lalong lumaki ang problema. Iyon ang sinasabi nila, it's better safe than sorry. Mahirap daw iyong ganoon kasi kung may naiwan sa runway na debris, kung may dumating na eroplano, at may debris na ganoon, baka magkaproblema uli so they were very careful about it. Hindi naman ako technical so I would think na tama rin naman ang reason na they are being careful. Pero hindi ko alam kung how long ba iyong being careful kasi di naman ako marunong doon.

Q: How about iyong mga OFW na ang concern baka mawalan silang trabaho?

Villar: I think it's the problem of our government dealing with OFWs, dalawa lang iyan DFA at DOLE. They have to act to make sure. I'm sure iyong mga employer they will understand nasira iyong airport paano naman makakarating sa kanila? Masyado namang short-sighted iyong one or two days lang na-delay mawawalan na ng trabaho. I think it's for our government, DFA and DOLE to help them.

Q: DFA po?

Villar: Yes iyong work in other countries kasi papunta sila doon. Dapat tulungan na nila in case magkaproblema pagdating nila sa abroad kasi na-delay sila.

Q: Mag-intercede sila?

Villar: Yes. Kasi hindi naman kasalanan ng mga workers talagang nagkaproblema na beyond their control.

Q: On Duterte's health.

Villar: I was in Davao Friday and ang saya-saya niya. Galit na galit na naman sa mga corrupt paano namang nagkasakit iyon?

Q: Bakit kaya may nagpapakalat na may sakit siya?

Villar: Ganoon naman talaga kapag presidente ka, that is expected. I don't think it's true and we should not be worried about it.

Q: No need for medical bulletins?

Villar: No. Nagbago na ba kayo sa fake news? Tuwang-tuwa nga siyang nagpapakuha sa mga barangay ng Davao City kasi that is the first time na nakapagpakuha ng picture ang lahat ng barangay ng Davao City after he became president. Iyon ang first time so pinapila nilang lahat ang tagal-tagal lahat nagpakuha sa kanya ng pictures, Davao City barangay captains and kagawad at mga purok leader. So I don't think there is a problem.

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