Friday, February 01, 2008 Arroyo lauded for DMIA upgrade By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK FREEPORT -- Residents in several municipalities around Clark Freeport lauded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for declaring the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) as the main international airport of the country.
Local executives in Pampanga have expressed optimism that the announcement of the Arroyo making the airport as premier gateway of the country will bring about countless opportunities.
Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales said local officials in Pampanga have been batting for the development of DMIA as premier airport of the Philippines since the withdrawal of the US forces at the former Air Force base.
"We saw the enormous potentials of Clark given its size and strategic importance in the heart of Asia-Pacific. We saw it fit for the conversion of the former US airbase into productive civilian use," Morales said.
He said thousands of residents in Mabalacat town are now working in the freeport, which already has over 50,000 workers.
"DMIA is the crown jewel of Clark Freeport and we are expressing our deep gratitude to President Arroyo for declaring DMIA as the main gateway of the Philippines," he said.
Angeles City Mayor Francis Nepomuceno has echoed the views of Morales saying "the airport will bring about positive developments in and out of the Clark Freeport Zone."
"DMIA has risen from the ashes of Mt. Pinatubo and is now giving hopes not only residents of Angeles but to the entire Filipinos as well. Development at the airport will bring more job and business opportunities," said Nepomuceno.
Both Morales and Nepomuceno are members of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC).
President Arroyo earlier ordered the drafting of an executive order (EO) mandating open skies in a month and at the same time giving the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) up to a year to turn the DMIA into the country's premier international airport in preparation for the eventual closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
Deputy Presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said President Arroyo issued the directive at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-Cabinet Group meeting recently.
She issued the twin orders to DOTC chief Leandro Mendoza and chief presidential counsel Sergio Apostol.
"The President gave a directive that DMIA would be the premier airport already of the country," Fajardo said.
Mendoza reportedly told the Cabinet that Naia will be "downgraded and eventually closed down."
President Arroyo gave a time frame of six months up to one year to turn the DMIA into the country's premier airport, which would support her bid to turn Clark and Subic freeports as the regional logistics hub and the new international gateways of the country.
The designation of DMIA as the premier airport was recommended by the DOTC and the Department of Tourism (DOT) noting the congestion at the old gateway.
Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pamcham) president Rene Romero for his part said the business sector of Pampanga and the Regional Development Council has long been pushing for the declaration of the airport as the country's premier gateway.
The Clark airport, Romero said, has enough space and ready facilities to accommodate huge number of international passengers.
"At least, we were vindicated (with our claims) that Naia has no more rooms for expansion," he added.
