ANGELES CITY—The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) has urged Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Emigdio “Dino” Tanjuatco III to resign now if he intends to run for mayor of Tanay, Rizal, in 2016.
PGKM Chairman Ruperto Cruz said on Thursday that Tanjuatco should resign now, asking why the latter should wait until October.
Reliable sources said Tanjuatco is contemplating on running for mayor of Tanay. But he will only resign from his CIAC post once he files his certificate of candidacy in October.
Cruz said President Aquino will take the backlash in case Tanjuatco fails to deliver on the promises for the Clark International Airport (CIA).
The PGKM has also assailed the pronouncements of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, who expressed surprise by the study made by the Aeroports de Paris.
“Aeroports de Paris designed a huge terminal that is beyond what we thought would be the actual demand. We don’t need it yet,” Abaya said in published reports.
“The potential of Clark airport is its land area and ready infrastructure. Why is the design study of Aeroports de Paris too big when we are thinking of not only the present demand but future development?” Cruz asked.
“In the case of the airport in Sangley Point that is being pushed by Abaya, imagine we still have to go to Cavite just to fly out?” Cruz said.
The Capampangans, Pangasinenses, as well as the Ilocanos, have all pinned their hopes on the Clark airport; it will be a total waste and disservice if nothing is made out of the promises for its immediate and full development, Cruz said.
Sangley is too close to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in terms of air distance. It is not feasible to put up an airport there without compromising the Naia, Cruz added.
It would be better to put up an airport at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, which could operate with the Naia and Clark simultaneously, Cruz said.
The proposed Sangley Point airport in Cavite is only for Caviteños. It is obvious vested interest and not a logical location, noted Cruz.
“The money they will spend for an airport in Cavite can be used to build the other airports and maybe they can even be surplus,” Cruz said in Capampangan. “The safety of air passengers should be paramount.”
The PGKM also expressed its support to the bill, establishing the Clark Airport Authority, which was sponsored by Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao (First District, Pampanga) in the House and Sen. Bam Aquino in the Senate.
Cruz said the PGKM supports the bill, which would hopefully be signed by President Aquino.
Meanwhile, Tanjuatco, in a statement sent to the media on Thursday, brushed aside “certain perceptions that the government is neglecting Clark.”
Tanjuatco said, “The truth is that we fully support the development of Clark airport. In fact, the Department of Transportation and Communications had already infused an initial P1.2 billion for the construction of our new low-cost carrier passenger terminal building.”
He said the project is up for bidding this year, which is proof that the government is serious in developing the Clark airport.
Tanjuatco said Clark airport has its own catchment area in the northern regions of Luzon, while the Naia services the southern portion. He clarified that the two airports are not competing with each other since their operations and expansion complement each other.