CLARK FREEPORT -- A former congressman of Nueva Ecija said Friday he supports the full development of the Clark International Airport (CRK).
Rodolfo “Rody” Antonino, former Nueva Ecija fourth district representative, said this in a forum with officers and members of the Capampangan in Media Incorporated (CAMI) at the Bale Balita here.
Antonino said that the full development and utilization of the Clark airport will spur development in the entire Central Luzon.
Antonino said the government should scrap its plan to build a new airport at Sangley Point in Cavite.
“Papaano [kami] pupunta doon, napakalayo," he said.
Clark airport is big enough to be the country’s premier gateway and it has multiple runways to accommodate numerous aircraft, according to the former lawmaker.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, chaired by President Benigno Aquino III, approved recently the P15-billion Clark airport expansion project.
Upon the completion of the project, Clark airport will be able to accommodate 15 million passengers per year.
The new airport facility, designed by the Aeroport De Paris, is expected to meet international aviation standards.
The government is also planning to implement support projects including the improvement of highways and railways that will connect Clark airport to the central business districts of Makati, Ortigas, Cubao and others.
The first phase of the Clark airport project will be implemented from 2016 to 2018 and the second phase between 2023 and 2025.
CRK is of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two parallel runways that can easily be extended to four kilometers to accommodate new generation wide-bodied aircraft.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) president Emigdio Tanjuatco III said the Clark airport has its own catchment area in the northern regions of Luzon island.
During the CAMI forum, Antonino also said that he would push for the implementation of programs to support farmers in Nueva Ecija, which is the rice granary of Central Luzon.
Aside from this, he would also work for the maintenance of peace and order in the province.
UNA is fielding Antonino in the gubernatorial race against Liberal Party member and third term representative Czarina “Cherry” Domingo Umali.