This developed after the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM), an advocacy group acting as a watchdog to the development of the Clark Freeport and Clark International Airport, wrote a letter to Marcos requesting him to investigate the CDC and the BCDA and review of the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992 (RA 7227 as amended by RA 9400).
Acknowledging the PGKM’s letter to Marcos, his chief of staff, Atty. Ilya Kristine R. Ravena replied: “Please be informed that Senator Marcos has instructed his Legis/Legal Team to look into the issues raised in your letter for appropriate action and recommendation.”
“Senator Marcos is one with the Filipino nation in the quest for peace and development of our country and people,” she added.
PGKM Chair Ruperto Cruz said Marcos’ acknowledgement of the PGKM letter and his instructions to his legislative and legal teams are welcome developments, “inter-relating with his advocacy for the decongestion of Metro Manila.”
Last week, Marcos pushed for the development of Metro Manila’s outskirts not just as a way to achieve economic progress but also as a long-term solution to traffic congestion in the metropolis. In a way, Cruz said, Marcos can now lay the groundwork in further improving his advocacy of developing Metro Manila’s outskirts by investigating Clark and ironing out the kinks that could lead to similar problems like the horrible traffic in Manila.
“He could begin by finding out why the CDC is adamant in putting up the Capilion Corp. Pte. Ltd. project at the main gate of Clark Freeport which can obviously hamper the development of the Clark airport with projected horrendous traffic at the main gate,” Cruz added.
A study in 2012 showed that around P2.4 billion ($51 million) is lost to vehicular gridlock in Metro Manila daily.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan qualified that the losses were in terms of time and opportunity to earn by people stuck in traffic and the extra cost of operating vehicles in “standstill” roads.
Marcos has quoted experts who said “the most effective major and long-term solution that is being proposed to address this gigantic traffic and urban congestion problem in Metro Manila is to develop the areas around it that have strong economic potential. Marcos cited Pampanga as one of the places that can be developed including Clark.
Marcos, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, said the focus should no longer be developing just the National Capital Region (NCR), but also the identified areas called the “Greater Capital Region (GCR).”
“This is the dream plan for Metro Manila. If this will be realized, people from the provinces would no longer crowd Metro Manila to look for jobs because employment opportunities would already be available in their areas,” he said.
