CLARK FREEPORT – Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin has urged the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to fast-track the construction of the railway connecting Clark to Metro Manila as more airlines began serving local and international flights at the Clark International Airport (CIA).
Lazatin said Transportation and Communications Sec. Mar Roxas should exhaust all means to ensure the completion of the stalled Northrail project.
“A fast train should also be considered to ferry CIA passengers to and from Metro Manila,” said Lazatin.
In his earlier speech at the CIA, Roxas said Aquino has remained supportive of developments at Clark and its airport but admitted that the Northrail project “is back at the drawing board.”
The Northrail will connect Metro Manila to Clark, starting from Caloocan City.
Lazatin said “transportation via land, sea and air is important” in pushing for major developments.
“We don’t need to stress that the creation of Northrail will boost tremendous economic activities, especially in my district,” said Lazatin, whose jurisdiction includes Mabalacat, Angeles City and Magalang. Clark’s developed area of over 4,600 hectares is concentrated in Mabalacat and Angeles.
Lazatin said new airlines operating at Clark, including Philippines AirAsia and Hong-Kong-based Dragonair and AirPhil Express, “are very much welcome in Pampanga.”
He added that these airlines will help intensify major developments in Mabalacat under Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales.
The said town is set to be a city pending a plebiscite on July 21.
“I also asked residents to give their suggestions on how to better prepare Clark and its surrounding communities as more planes and their passengers are expected to land and stay in Pampanga,” said Lazatin.
