CLARK FREEPORT --- A movement calling for the full development of Clark International Airport (CRK) has described the country's largest airport in terms of land area as a "victim of bad politics."
The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PKGM), headed by prominent businessman Ruperto Cruz, stated that three presidents from Luzon served the country since the devastation of Clark Freeport following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the pull-out of military troops from the former United States Air Force base.
However, none of the three presidents --- Fidel Ramos (Pangasinan), Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Pampanga), Benigno Aquino III (Tarlac) -- instituted a policy that would transform Clark airport as the country's next premier gateway, said Cruz.
"Angga ngeni ala tamu pa mu rin airport. Until now the airport is not completed yet," Cruz said.
Aside from this, Aquino appointed wrong persons handling the development of Clark – both the Freeport and airport, the businessman said.
Cruz is referring to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Tugade, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and Chief Executive Officer Arnel Casanova, and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and Chief Executive Officer Emigdio Tanjuatco Jr.
The President should have designated businessmen and marketing people in the three government agencies mandated to implement programs for the development Clark, Cruz added.
The businessman earlier cited an alleged conspiracy among government leaders and taipans in Metro Manila to sabotage the development of Clark airport.
He also said that there is huge amount of "campaign money" to prevent the development of Clark. The funds, he added, come from the tycoons protecting their businesses in "Imperial Manila."
Cruz expressed suspicions that government officials benefitted from these campaign funds.
"Ninu reng mekinabang kareng campaign money? Natural retang conspirators a mag-sabotahi keng Clark," Cruz said.
Part of the plan to prevent Clark airport maximize its full potential is the establishment of non-airport related facilities like garment factories and sports training center inside the aviation complex.
Executive Order 716 mandates the CIAC to develop, operate, manage and maintain the 2,367-hectare the Clark civil aviation complex.
Recently, CIAC offered a 50-hectare property inside the aviation complex for the proposed transfer of the national training center from Manila to Clark.
Cruz earlier assailed the CIAC for allowing Luen Thai, a huge garment factory located inside the aviation complex, to extend its lease contract.
"They are crowding the aviation complex to stop the full growth of Clark airport," Cruz said.
He urged the general manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) --- Jose Angel Honrado, one of the CIAC directors – to work on preventing the crowding Clark aviation complex and transfer of some flights from Manila to Clark.
Cruz also appealed to Philippine Olympic Committee Jose "Peping" Cojuangco to "build the new Rizal Memorial Coliseum (national training center) at the Clark Global City in Tarlac and not inside Clark airport facility."
"Don't make us believe that you are part of the conspiracy to sabotage Clark," Cruz said.
CRK is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two parallel runways that can be extended to four kilometers to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A380.