ANGELES CITY – With a new leadership at the helm of the government-run Clark Development Corp. (CDC), an advocacy group based here has expressed confidence in the leadership of a retired chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who was appointed by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III as the CDC’s officer-in-charge and chairman of the Board.
“His appointment to run the CDC is nothing but timely,” said Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) Chair Ruperto Cruz, who was referring to retired AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban. The new Clark official replaced Atty. Felipe “Ping” Remollo, whose resignation was accepted by President Aquino.
Being a former top ranking official in the air force, Cruz said Oban would be the “perfect instrument” in the bid to relocate the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from the Clark Freeport to several proposed areas.
For almost two decades, the PAF has expanded from a military entity into a growing residential community inside the Clark Freeport.
Cruz stressed that the prime lands occupied by the PAF can be converted to more productive sites suitable for various local or international investments.
“At the same time, the heavy presence of the air force at the Freeport implies a sort of a garrison state which is not conducive to the Freeport being a prime investment area,” Cruz said.
But Cruz stressed that he is not advocating for the total pull-out of all air force units inside the Clark Freeport. He emphasized that the air force and administrators at the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) must come up with a “joint-use” scheme to utilize the airport’s runways, most especially during emergencies.
“It would be best that a contingent of the PAF should remain inside the Freeport because this will instill some feeling of security among existing and potential investors,” Cruz said.
“However, it is no longer advisable to accommodate the entire PAF, including thousands of square meters of prime lands for their housing and recreational needs.
These lands must be developed to further boost the economic attractiveness of the Clark Freeport to the international and local community.”
In a press statement, the CDC reported that Oban was instrumental in the negotiation process between government mediators and Magdalo rebels during the Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
Cruz noted that with Oban’s diplomatic skills, “he qualifies as the best person to explain to the Philippine Air Force why the lands they are occupying must be developed by the CDC into investment areas.”
“We need somebody from the PAF who, at the same time, understands the needs of the Freeport,” said Cruz.
