Thus, said 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales over the weekend in the wake of a meeting with the leaders of the Advocacy for Dual Airport Authority (Adapt) who are pushing for the development of the Clark International Airport (CIA) as major international gateway in a ”twinning system” with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Also present in the meeting were 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin, Tarlac 3rd District Rep. Noel Villanueva and Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales.
Gonzales said he has given his full support to the Adapt initiative, recognizing the “opportunities opened not only to Pampanga and Central Luzon but also to Northern Luzon with the full utilization of Clark as premier gateway.”
“It follows then that the Clark airport issue is not for the Pampanga legislators to champion alone but for all our peers from all areas to be impacted by the airport’s full operationalization,” Gonzales said, committing himself to “network with the Central and Northern Luzon blocs in the House.”
“Our concerted effort in the House, with the support of the local government units, the business sector and the advocacy groups will catalyze into that political will that will give the strongest push for the development of the Clark airport,” Gonzales said.
He noted that the added motivation, “even for our counterparts, especially in Metro Manila,” to support a House initiative on Clark is “the decongestion of both air and land traffic at NAIA, and by extension EDSA.”
Gonzales has expressed optimism over Clark becoming premier gateway in a dual airport scheme with NAIA, citing the “positive pronouncements” of President Duterte regarding the use of Clark as hub for domestic flights.
“All we need is to make the proper representation, with the proper development plans,” Gonzales said.
DMIA again
As this developed, Gonzales said he would introduce a bill in the House of Representatives changing the name of Clark International Airport back to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
“This will help in rebranding and providing a Kapampangan identity for the airport,” Gonzales said.
The Clark airport was renamed the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport by the Clark Development Corp. Board of Directors at the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
By a resolution of the Clark International Airport Corp., it was reverted to Clark International Airport during the incumbency of President Aquino.
In 2013, then 1st District Rep. Joseller Guiao filed a bill renaming Clark to Cory C. Aquino Airport.
Airlines though have always referred to the Clark airport as CRK, its international code with the International Air Transport Association.
