|
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Roxas: Furor over budget flight
By Fred Roxas
PRAYER rallies and street demonstrations led by a faction of Catholic Church leaders and some party list members of Congress, although peaceful, have been contributing in essence to the sustained and systematic protests against the Arroyo administration.
This consensus was gathered by Romy P. Yusi, Sr., regional governor for Central Luzon of the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCII), from several of its member during their recently concluded National Business Conference held at the Manila Hotel.
According to Yusi, several participants in the recent National Business Conference expressed a common belief that prayer rallies and demonstrations against the Arroyo administration that were instigated by some church dignitaries were a clear show of defiance and intervening in the political affair of the country.
Some Catholic Church bishops and military priests have disregarded the constitutional doctrine of the separation of the church and state power which action many concerned citizens believed has added fuel to the politically volatile situation now gripping the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Several business leaders, Yusi said, even suggested that some party-list members of Congress should resign their position for expressing their belief in the "uselessness and inutility" of the government. These party-list lawmakers should instead help the duly constituted government attain its programs for the benefit of their respective constituents.
* * * * *
Central Luzon residents have welcomed a call by Angeles City Councilor Jay Sangil to boycott Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Airways (CPA) for protesting the applications for flights of budget airlines between Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) and other countries.
The opposition by PAL and CPA filed before the Civil Aeronautics Broad (CAB) against budget airlines Thai Air Asia and Tiger Asia is a move to stop the growth of DMIA into the country's premier international gateway as envisioned by President Arroyo.
According to Sangil, Manila-based giant airlines are blocking the development of the Clark airport because their operations would be adversely affected by airlines offering budget fares.
* * * * *
The recent first ever fish festival dubbed Seafood Market Link" at the Clark ecozone received full support from President Arroyo who acted as principal guest of honor and speaker in its launching. The festival was initiated by Pampanga Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc and the Bureau of Forest and Aquatic Resources (Bfar).
During the festival, the President pledged her support to the proposed conversion to fishponds of some two million hectares of rice fields in the country to harness the potentials of the growing aquaculture industry. These rice land have become unproductive for years now due to the intrusion of saline waters.
Top seafood buyer and growers in Central Luzon attended the festival and forged direct market ties and links. The festival coincided with the celebration of Central Luzon's rich heritage and leadership in seafood production.
Bondoc said the main objectives of the festival include the provision of assistance to the seafood growers in the region and to find new market linkage and expose them to have direct access to various options and the best price available.
(October 29, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
