Gov"t engineers - Manila Bulletin

(Editor’s note: If government engineers can build airports/terminals like Singapore’s Changi we can stop talking to contractors, as noted by the author.)

One of the 20th century’s excellent memoirs of a statesman was written by Lee Kuan Yew titled From Third World to First. The author is the world’s longest-serving prime minister (1959-1990) and father of his country. About the author Henry Kissinger wrote. “Every great achievement is a dream before it becomes a reality, and his vision was of a state that would not simply survive but prevail by excelling.”

Built by government engineers

Changi International Airport has been voted best world airport a number of times. Singapore is my favorite ASEAN city for a few reasons: Safety of tourists, shoppers see the same price tags anywhere, cheap but delicious meals, efficient service, cleanliness, and my son Napoleon, a Singaporean citizen, is managing director of a firm engaged in commodities trading worldwide. He is married to an Australian dentist, Tina Ryan, and have three bright kids – Jordan, Cameron, and Imogen.

There’s a small corner at Changi airport terminal that honors its builder by a small marker: Built by the Department of Public Works. The marker is a tribute to the government engineers’ capacity to build structurally sound and well-designed buildings.

Huge profit

I asked an experienced architect and a structural engineer if government could save a lot by building its own terminal building and other offices. Their rough computation is something like this: If the contractor’s winning bid is R1 B this includes the contractor’s profit on labor and cost of materials estimated at 20 percent to 30 percent. It’s clear as daylight that our government can save R200 M to R300 M if the airport terminal is thrown to DPWH to build and complete within target.

Study in Europe and US for six months

In the provinces some DPWH engineers occupy air-conditioned boxes at classy cockpits. We can make them useful by sending 15 or 20 of them to Europe and the US to study how world-class runways and terminals are built. An intensive study period of six months can convert dull and lazy engineers and architects into builders/designers. The study program should be a continuing endeavor, and NOT a chance for a tree travel and vacation.

Pool of experts

When they return to Manila they should be classified as part of a pool of “experts” in design, structural engineering, etc. As more and more of them get serious exposure abroad, they should be asked to design provincial airports, bridges, and office buildings. In time, they can replace contractors who overcharge the government for similar projects. We can only assume that the government engineers/architects who built Changi airport were probably sent to Europe/US to study modern trends in building world-class airports and terminals.

Myanmar’s old terminal

In July, 2000, I found myself shopping for souvenirs in Yangon, Myanmar. Government employees referred to Aung San Suu Kyi as “that woman.” The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize awardee and opposition leader was under house arrest. According to my driver, who wore a faded polo shirt, my hotel was owned by a businessman and military officer. I didn’t ask if the officer owned a bigger share of their partnership.

How quickly time has changed people/places! In 2000, Myanmar’s airport terminal had only one “space” for both departing/arriving passengers. At immigration/customs line, I gave my passport to a fellow without uniform who kept turning the booklet upside down. He was looking for the right words that allowed all of us to deplane.

Changi as model

It was raining hard and to most of us the terminal appeared like a warehouse or a quonset hut. Now Myanmar has an international airport that can stand proudly beside Singapore’s famous Changi. It can put to shame NAIA 1, 2, and 3 combined.

We have bright engineers/architects who can design and build infrastructures without giving them to contractors who are still FIXING NAIA 3 after 15 years. And the government can get and use all the huge profits intended for contractors “na world-class kuno.” Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com.

Gov"t engineers - Manila Bulletin