Boomed Alexander Sangalang Cauguiran, president of Partido Abe Kapampangan (AbeKa), of his party’s position addressed to presidentiables on the imperative use of the CIA as international gateway.
“The interest of [AbeKa] on this issue lies on the expected boost the airport can bring not only to the local economy but national as well, which could result in more jobs and business opportunities for our people,” furthered he, dangling the sweetener: “Our party will actively support those who see the wisdom of our position.”
Far from motherhood statements on the value of the CIA over NAIA and other prospective alternative airports – routinely spewed by current candidates, presidential and otherwise, amounting to nothing more than soundbites for the six o’clock news – Cauguiran spells out a concrete frame of development for the Clark airport.
His party’s four-point agenda primarily focused on the needed legislation to effect the full operations of the CIA as premier gateway, to wit:
Legislate a “MNL-CRK Dual Airport System” as priority national policy and directing the Department of Transportation and Communications, the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to establish and implement an “Air Traffic Distribution Policy for MNL and CRK.”
Legislate the non-imposition (or a moratorium on the collection) of travel tax in all airports of the Philippines except MNL.
Legislate exemption of Filipino airlines flying domestic routes (at all Philippine airports except MNL) from payment of excise tax and value added tax on their aviation fuel.
Direct the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health and other government agencies to ensure that preemployment procedures and services required of OFWs are available near Clark International Airport in Pampanga (preferably under a onestop government center).
The right interventions, immediately doabletoo, we can say of the Abeka agenda.
And of its president: The passion for the Clark airport has not ebbed a bit in Cauguiran, pursued even before he sat as executive vice president of the Clark International Airport Corp., and right thereafter.
We were with Cauguiran when his Move Clark Now joined forces with Ruperto Cruz’s Pinoy Gumising ka Movement in the massive rallies at the very gates of Clark for the “full operationalization of the airport” and in various fora to mobilize support for the cause of the Clark airport. We were in their historic march too to Mendiola, bringing to Malacanang the people’s petition for the airport crafted from the positions gathered at the so-called Clark Summit participated in by various stakeholders. The cause of Clark even taken by PGKM and MCN to the courts. Yes, we were also with them in filing a class suit against the Philippine International Airport Corp. deal on Terminal 3 of NAIA, citing it would negate all the potentials and opportunities in Clark as premier international airport of the country. This, long before the subsequent outcry versus the Piatco deal that ultimately went all the way to the Supreme Court.
As CIAC EVP, we witnessed how Cauguiran championed the cause of the Clark airport in the numerous air talks with other countries that resulted to the increased flights and destinations to and from Clark.
Yes, Cauguiran has always stood on solid ground where the interests of the Clark airport are at stake, characteristically sizzling as ever with passion and fervor.
It comes then as a surprise that Caugurian’s sizzle fizzles out on the issue of Capilion’s Green Frontier project which – by constricting the entry to the Clark Freeport – makes an antithesis to the full development of the Clark airport as premier international gateway.
Sizzle pa more, Sir!
