ANGELES CITY -- A business leader in Pampanga said the Philippines, as an archipelago, needs more airports.
Rene Romero, president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham), said he supports the plan of the government, particularly the Department of Transportation headed by Secretary Arthur Tugade, to build several airports.
The businessman issued the statement in support to Tugade's statement that more airports will result in commercial competitiveness, which is beneficial to the riding public.
This, after Tugade approved the Notice to Proceed for San Miguel Aerocity Inc. for the construction of the Bulacan International Airport.
Romero said "the more airports, the better for the country. Kung pwede nga lang mayroon tayong airport in La Union, in Dagupan, in Clark, in Subic, in Bulacan, in Manila, Cavite, Batangas tapos up to Visayas and Mindanao better, particularly tayo archipelago tayo. Ang mga lugar natin pira piraso so aside from sa transport system natin sa dagat ay kailangan din natin sa ere para mas maging maganda."
The PamCham leader said building a fully-operational airport will take a minimum of 10 to 15 years.
The new world-class terminal of Clark International Airport will be completed by next year, Romero said.
In the next five years, the businessman said he sees that Clark will have its own niche in aviation.
"Because of the government's program to decongest Metro Manila, yung NAIA natin although ang gubyerno naghahanap ng alternative facility sa kanya, I hope matuloy din yung Cavite siguro magtataka ka because we really need to decongest Metro Manila," Romero said.
Ramon Ang of San Miguel is now planning or building the airport in Bulacan, according to him.
"As I have said, it needs 10 to 15 years to really make a good airport, so by that time Clark is already stable. So we don't need to worry. In fact, ako personally, in a way kung kailangan suportahan, suportahan pa nga e. Why? because the more airports the better for the country," Romero said.