Tulabut: Clark Duo

Friday, August 5, 2011

TWO great leaders.

Not because they happen to be the prime movers of Clark, a place dear to me and to those who want to see the Freeport soar to greater heights. CIAC President Chichos Luciano and Atty. Ping Remollo of CDC are but rowing to the same directions - to progress - something that has not been so present in the past in the two government corporations.

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Luciano is fulfilling his mandate well in aviation, surpassing his own record-setting stint in bringing airlines to DMIA.

This man deserves only the accolades of those who keep keen interest on the development of Clark. Why would he? His very latest laurel is bringing a Lucio Tan company to Clark.

Yes, you read it right there.

The Kapitan is finally convinced to set his sights on DMIA, with his latest business move that will surely be hailed by stakeholders.

News that Airphil Express - budget carrier and sister company of Philippine Airlines (PAL) - is finally mounting up flights at the DMIA, is not merely an item for the newspapers.

It is something that Clark stakeholders should be proud of. It is something that would spell greater progress for the former US military airbase.

Airphil Express' coming to Clark could also be seen as a prelude to other business decision of the Kapitan where he could probably let his flagship airline and country's flag carrier - Philippine Airlines - to also mount flights in and out of DMIA.

Asked if Lucio Tan has finally decided to invest in Clark, Alfredo Herrera, senior vice president of Airphil Express, said that the "expansion program of the budget carrier has been approved by the Chairman."

While he might have been playing it safe there, I believe that Mr. Tan has given his imprimatur in looking into the viability of Clark flights for his airline companies.

Convincing the Kapitan to come to Clark is one great job that should not go unnoticed not just by the stakeholders but also by the national leadership.

Luciano proves everyone's observation that DMIA's progression from a once bird-less airport into one of the country's premier gateways could be attributed to his hard work.

This is probably the reason too why the Aquino Administration has not and will not find anyone else to head CIAC. Luciano has done wonders in Clark and DMIA and he deserves to stay.

Atty. Ping, on the other hand, is also a tireless and focused worker.

Aside from pushing for his sports tourism thrust, he is also putting away road blocks to progress.

Unknown to a lot of people is his efforts in settling aside legal and extra legal issues involving locators, labor problems, and other hindrances to development.

He has done that not because he is a lawyer by profession but because of his earnestness to create and sustain goodwill bewtwen and among stakeholders - locators and political leaders especially.

He is a good PR man himself. Not that he was a former mayor but his charisma is a tool for convincing stakeholders that he means business in Clark.

Atty. Ping has led CDC executives in resolving some nagging problems that have sidetracked some locators from pushing their projects in Clark. He is a troubleshooter.

He has made himself available too for local government leaders. He made sure that he was present in the delivery of reports to the public by Governor Lilia Pineda and Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan - sign of a sensitive and sensible leader.

While he was prematurely (read: unfairly) criticized for not being around in the pledging session for a fund raising event of Cong. Tarzan Lazatin's "Kabahagi Ako..." project (repair and construction of new school buildings), he has committed to contribute P10 million to the undertaking. Now, if other people would not call that as true concern for Clark communities, then I no longer know what is. That commitment is also an act where he gets to put his money where his mouth is.

Atty. Ping is not just concerned. He is a visionary too.

Already, he is taking concrete steps that will flesh out his plans for Clark to be known as sports tourism haven.

He is into negotiations for the establishment of sports stadium that will house baseball and football fields as well as aqua and other sports.

I wouldn't be surprised when, in the near future, Clark will be host to great sporting events such as PBA, soccer, and Manny Pacquiao fights. I wouldn't be surprised too if organizers of events like this would be lining up in Remollo's office just to stage sporting spectacles.

This too is one good reason why the Aquino Administration feels good in the further development of Clark. With a sensible man like Remollo, Malacañang is scoring big inside the Freeport and the local communities.