ANGELES CITY – No amount of death and tragedy or even sound advice from aviation experts and the media could convince Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to take a second look at the advantages of finally utilizing the Clark International Airport to its full potential.
“It seems Secretary Roxas has missed the big picture,” said Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) Chair Ruperto Cruz, who was reacting to an editorial entitled “Standed at NAIA” published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Dec. 16 issue.
The commentary, which delved on the plane crash that killed 13 people in Paranaque recently, also stressed on CAAP Director General Ramon Gutierrez’s proposal:
“The real solution to the many problems bugging the NAIA, including safety concerns, congestion, sanitation and plain ugliness, is to move the international airport to Clark in Pampanga.”
Gutierrez further said that “…the transfer to Clark is necessary if the Philippines wants to improve its international safety rating.”
“So what more does Roxas want? The people of Central Luzon have been waiting for too long for this to happen,” said Cruz, who praised Gutierrez for raising his concerns about the viability of the continued use of NAIA.
Cruz, again, referred to the Inquirer editorial which pointed out that “policymakers have long seen the necessity and potentials of moving the international airport to Clark.”
It added: “As early as 1994 President Fidel V. Ramos issued an executive order making Clark the primary international gateway to the country.”
But Cruz was quick to say that similar to the plans of former presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Roxas pronouncements on the development of the Clark airport are mere “political gimmickry.”
“If the good transportation secretary is serious in replacing NAIA with the Clark airport, then where are the plans?
Nothing is happening,” said Cruz, who also inquired on the much-needed policy statement regarding the development of the Clark airport, including master development plans, bidding proposals, and terms of references.
Cruz further stressed that “We’re not against the use of NAIA but what we are asking from the government is a solid assurance that they are set on fully utilizing Clark as an international airport.”
The PGKM chair said that suspicions are being raised against the real intentions of Roxas over his October 2011 announcement to move NAIA operations to Clark. Shortly after, Roxas backtracked his statements saying the viability of Clark being an international airport would depend on the success of the beleaguered North Rail project and the privatization of NAIA.
“Why is Roxas preconditioning the development on the Clark airport on the North Rail project which is riddled with many problems?” asked Cruz.
Cruz said the government should, instead, “strongly consider” the proposal of business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan, which he described as the “ideal investor” since his proposal that is similar to that of Roxas’s projects, “contains the total package.”
Cruz was referring to Pangilinan’s development plans for the Clark airport, which includes a railway project that will traverse the middle section of the North Luzon Expressway.
“Pangilinan’s proposal has the holistic approach to the development of the Clark airport. And he is a Kapampangan and he possesses a reputation of investing in successful business ventures,” said Cruz, who lauded Pangilinan for his plan for Clark.
Cruz also cautioned the public to be wary of the direction government is taking on its plan to develop NAIA.
“Without vigilance, we will fail in preventing mistakes committed in the past. Take for example the funds allotted for the rehabilitation of Pinatubo-devastated areas that were used for various political agenda,” Cruz warned.
He stressed that if government does not want to accept Pangilinan’s proposal then “Why not give other business groups, civic organizations like the PGKM, or even local government officials who care for Clark the opportunity to look for investors that are capable of developing the Clark airport.”
“Whatever Roxas has in mind goes against the vision of Republic Act 7227 which is the development of Central and Northern Luzon anchored on the Clark airport. Roxas’ take on Clark is nothing but political posturing,” Cruz said.
–Joey Aguilar & Joey Pavia
