Sunday, May 18, 2008 Gueco: Fly High By Malu T. Gueco Aslagan
WHAT an historical event.
It all started as a simple search for the green, green grass of food for horses, thereafter, this activity led to trailblazing events imprinted on aviation history.
Tracing the archives on Fort Stotsenburg reveals this interesting attribute. Way back in the 1900s, the U.S. cavalry unit needed to provide for the sustenance of their horses, thereto they pitched their tents at the northern portion of Kuliat (Original name of Angeles City) where the grass was suitable. They liked this forest and they hoisted themselves up in their saddles to inspect the terrain.
Moving in with their survey team, they marked off an area of 7,669 acres to establish their fort. An executive order from their U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt declared that this encampment be named Fort Stotsenburg after Captain John M. Stotsenburg.
In 1917, they established military aviation facilities in the eastern portion of the said vicinity. It was also renamed Clark Field in honor of Major Harold M. Clark who crashed in the Panama Canal Zone.
One hundred eight years have gone by since those times, truly, it has amplified into a spectacular experience in aviation history for the Philippines and Uncle Sam.
2008
Today, our Philippine government holds the reins of the former U.S. military field. Under the stewardship of the world-renowned Clark Special Economic Zone, it occupies a commercial, industrial and agriculture complex covering 28,000 hectares.
A key component of its development is the operations of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) which is foreseen as the international gateway in opening trade opportunities.
Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council
Boosting this long-term strategy for progress, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has strengthened the two-year-old Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (Scad) Council into the unified pillar that will harmonize the strategies of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).
In Executive Order (EO) 504-A, the President cited the "need to strengthen and enhance the powers and capabilities of the Scad Council as the single body with a fulltime head to rationalize resources and harmonize strategies."
The Scad Council will be headed by a chairman with the rank of a Cabinet member.
Worthily, the President has appointed Secretary Ed Pamintuan to head SCADC.
Sec Ed's vision
"We will work in completing the coordinated development of the Scad corridor as a world-class mega-logistics hub and a global gateway to the Asia Pacific Region," Secretary Ed Pamintuan asserts.
He further added: "From Los Angeles, California to Angeles City, from Laos to Luzon, Kuala Lumpur to kindred Clark region, verily, across the four corners of the globe, we vow that the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) will offer the premier transportation network services. Strengthening this project are its world-class radar facilities, cutting-edge runway network and expanded passenger terminal capacity of two million passengers, worthily, DMIA will soar high in our world's aviation history."
Finale
What an achievement.
The soaring winds from this Philippine hub of economic activities will reenergize, rekindle and revitalize our economic span. Taking off from our Kapampangan locale, thenceforth, crisscrossing our Philippines terrain, thereon lifting the air stream of international oneness.
Fly high, our exciting planes, towards the horizon of world empowerment.
