ANGELES CITY – “Where is the P6 billion?” This is now the question of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) after Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao announced over the weekend that only P1.2 billion is in the national budget for the development of the Clark International Airport (CIA).
The PGKM noted that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has earlier announced that a new budget terminal building will be constructed at the CIA for P7.2 billion. The PGKM even cited previously as an “amazing coincidence” the Clark Green City (CGC) project and the Clark budget terminal for having exactly the same P7.2 billion funding for a total of P14.4 billion.
“Is this for real?” the PGKM then asked. Guiao has announced that “the construction of the (Clark airport) terminal, which will increase our passenger capacity to 10 to 15 million annually, has been included in the 2015 budget to the tune of P1.2 billion.”
And thanked , along with President The neophyte solon explained that “it will total to about P7.2 billion but it is a very good start to be able to appropriate P1.2 billion for one year which is good enough as a start.” And promptly thanked President Aquino and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya “for supporting Clark.”
But PGKM chair Ruperto Cruz said Guiao is confusing the Kapampangans. Cruz noted that the President and Abaya have less than two years left in office and even if only half of the total amount is appropriated, it still falls short of the desired result of a new budget terminal building.
“This only proves that Abaya has no plans of developing the Clark airport because of his preference for Sangley in his own backyard,” said Cruz. “It is the same with the tourism sector who never lifted a finger to develop the airport.”
Cruz also said Guiao has no reason to thank Abaya if his heart is for the Kapampangans. “Why thank Abaya when he is the one trying to derail the development of Clark?” Cruz asked.
Rally
Meanwhile, Cruz said the PGKM will soon be mobilizing a rally in protest of the planned Capilion project of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the “continuing sabotage” of the Clark airport. In May, the Singapore- based Capilion Corp. Pte. Ltd. has committed to invest P7 billion for the long-term lease and development of a three-hectare lot near the old main gate at the Clark Freeport or across the SM City Clark.
“Is this an expansion of the road or is it another commercial establishment that will enjoy tax-free and import privileges to the detriment of local businesses?” Cruz asked. The CDC has yet to confirm if the Capilion project will enjoy tax-free and import privileges or will be treated like SM which pays taxes to the local government unit.
