ANGELES CITY – Citing their lack of political will, Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) chairman Ruperto Cruz has assailed Pampanga congressmen and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for allegedly doing nothing to make the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) fully operational.
“Now, Clark airport is already a lost opportunity,” Cruz told Punto in an interview.
He said that the four congressmen “could have united to push for DMIA’s full development but they have done nothing.”
Pampanga has four congressmen: Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin (1st district), Rep. Mikey Arroyo (2nd district), Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales (3rd district), and Anna York Bondoc-Sagum (4th district).
Cruz said the DMIA, which he now describes as the “Dead” Macapagal International Airport, could have benefited more overseas Filipino workers and created thousands of jobs for Central Luzon residents.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro earlier vowed to pursue the development of the DMIA as the country’s premier airport.
“The fullest potential of DMIA should be developed because this will bring in more development to the countryside. You cannot do with only one airport. You have to have several,” Teodoro said.
“We will have to use it (NAIA) alongside with Clark. Clark alone kulang pa iyon,” he added.
However, the PGKM chairman said it is saddening to note that congressmen and President Arroyo have their own vested interests.
He also assailed officials of the Clark International Airport Corp. saying that “they are the ones who impede the full development of DMIA.
An employee of CIAC who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said that it will take another 20 years before DMIA will be fully operational.
“Isipin niyo nalang, magagawa naman ng gubyerno na maglabas ng pera para sa pagsasagawa ng Terminal 2 pero hindi ito ang pina-prioritize nila (just think of this, the government could release funds for the construction of the Terminal 2 but they don’t prioritize it),” he said.
In a press conference here recently, presidential candidate Richard Gordon vowed to decongest Metro Manila by moving the Philippine capital to Clark.
“Central Luzon contributed five presidents- (Manuel) Quezon, (Diosdado) Macapagal, Cory (Aquino) and now Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. So how come Central Luzon lags behind the Calabarzon region in Southern Luzon?” he asked.
OFWs working in the Middle East told Punto through Facebook that it would be convenient for them to land at DMIA in Clark than at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
“Now, Clark airport is already a lost opportunity,” Cruz told Punto in an interview.
He said that the four congressmen “could have united to push for DMIA’s full development but they have done nothing.”
Pampanga has four congressmen: Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin (1st district), Rep. Mikey Arroyo (2nd district), Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales (3rd district), and Anna York Bondoc-Sagum (4th district).
Cruz said the DMIA, which he now describes as the “Dead” Macapagal International Airport, could have benefited more overseas Filipino workers and created thousands of jobs for Central Luzon residents.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro earlier vowed to pursue the development of the DMIA as the country’s premier airport.
“The fullest potential of DMIA should be developed because this will bring in more development to the countryside. You cannot do with only one airport. You have to have several,” Teodoro said.
“We will have to use it (NAIA) alongside with Clark. Clark alone kulang pa iyon,” he added.
However, the PGKM chairman said it is saddening to note that congressmen and President Arroyo have their own vested interests.
He also assailed officials of the Clark International Airport Corp. saying that “they are the ones who impede the full development of DMIA.
An employee of CIAC who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said that it will take another 20 years before DMIA will be fully operational.
“Isipin niyo nalang, magagawa naman ng gubyerno na maglabas ng pera para sa pagsasagawa ng Terminal 2 pero hindi ito ang pina-prioritize nila (just think of this, the government could release funds for the construction of the Terminal 2 but they don’t prioritize it),” he said.
In a press conference here recently, presidential candidate Richard Gordon vowed to decongest Metro Manila by moving the Philippine capital to Clark.
“Central Luzon contributed five presidents- (Manuel) Quezon, (Diosdado) Macapagal, Cory (Aquino) and now Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. So how come Central Luzon lags behind the Calabarzon region in Southern Luzon?” he asked.
OFWs working in the Middle East told Punto through Facebook that it would be convenient for them to land at DMIA in Clark than at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
