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Tag Archives: villamor air base

The Sorry State of Our Philippine Air Force (PAF)

Being a graduate of the Philippine Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps), I can’t help but notice (and pity our gallant airmen) the sorry state of our Philippine Air Force every time I will pass by the Villamor Air Base (VAB) Grandstand.

One (01) of the two (02) remaining C-130 cargo/transporter planes (ever reliable):

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One (01) of the two (02) remaining Bell Huey II Search & Rescue Helicopters – Vietnam War era planes (the PAF acquired license to perform in-house Huey II upgrades circa 2003 based on WikiPedia):

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Bragging aside, the Makati City has better fire-fighting equipment than the PAF:

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Perhaps one of the ground handling service contractors at the NAIA can donate a newer tow truck and step ladders (air steps) to the PAF:

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Servicing the Presidential Flight

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I was lucky enough to be included in our company’s servicing team to document the delivery of inflight meal requirements of the Presidential Flight this afternoon. President Noynoy Aquino left for Jakarta, Indonesia onboard a Bombardier Challenger 600 (chartered from Subic Air) at the Villamor Air Base.

We, together with our General Manager Rhodel Esteban, were at the plane side by 1500H – that’s 02 hours prior to the ETD of Kalayaan 1 (the call sign of the PHL presidential flight; the United States of America uses Air Force 1) and it was freaking hot at the ramp.

Minutes before 1700H, the presidential convoy arrived and moments later, P-Noy was at the podium to address the cabinet members (Vice-President Jojo Binay was there, too) present. After his speech, the President headed directly to the waiting aircraft. While he was at the staircase towards the door of the aircraft, a media man shouted, “Sir! Sir!” Then P-Noy looked back and waved to the crowd – good thing I was able to press the shutter of my camera at that instant!

Of course, I will not let the chance of having my pic taken in front of the Presidential plane (for this trip):

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One-Way in West Service Road Every Morning

If I remember it right, it was sometime in 2005 when the city government of Pasay and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) decided that a one-way traffic scheme North Bound (NB) will be implemented along the West Service Road from Kalayaan Road (near Merville Exit) all the way to Sales Bridge (leading to Villamor Air Base and Fort Bonifacio) every morning from 0600H to 1000H, Monday to Friday. Poor motorists and commuters from Magallanes/Nichols area going to Merville and West Service Road (South Bound – SB) do not have the choice, but to use the SLEX Merville Exit and pay the harsh toll fee of PHP30 per entry. It is harsh, because the distance from the Nichols Toll Plaza up to the Merville Exit is just around a kilometer; from Nichols Toll Plaza up to Bicutan Exit is around 3.5 kilometers: both exits charging the same rate.

The thing is, I do not know exactly what was the reason behind for making the one-way scheme along the West Service Road? It only favors those who are living at the Merville Subdivision (and nearby posh villages) and totally is against the welfare of the silent majority. If the intention of whoever enacted this traffic scheme is to lighten up the traffic leading to the Sales Bridge during days of work/school, why is it that the ramp leading to the West Service Road is also closed on holidays and even at times, during weekends?

Doesn’t this one-way scheme favors only the operators of the Merville Exit?

In less than a month’s time, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) will be implementing the imposition of the 12% VAT on all toll fees all around the country. Isn’t it time for the perpetrators of the one-way scheme along West Service Road review it’s effectivity, otherwise permanently discontinue this nuisance.