MAGALANG -- Pampanga Representative Joseller "Yeng" Guiao has described Clark International Airport (CRK) as the economic engine of the province.
For 2015, the province's first district got a total appropriation of P2-billion from the national budget, Guiao said.
The funds include the initial P1.2 billion for the expansion of the Clark airport terminal, the lawmaker said.
Clark airport, if fully developed and operational, will spur development in Pampanga and create jobs for the people particularly the youth.
"Malambat ta ne pung meging advocacy ita uling ita pu ing economic engine kening distritu tamu. Kabang sisikan, kaba pung mumunlad ya ita pung airport ampo ing Clark, reng pung kayanakan tamu mas dakal la pu pagkakataun makapantun obra (That has long been our advocacy because it is our economic engine in our district. While it grows stronger and the airport progresses, our youth will have more opportunities for employment)," Guiao said.
People in the province, according to him, will no longer go out of the country and leave their families to work.
“Apin pu ing kekatamung pagasa, reng kekatamung kabalen a atin ditak a kabiasnan makapanintun lang obra. Keni mu pung kekatamu, sana pu e’ nala mag abroad at e’ nala mikawani kareng pamilya da (It is our hope, that our skilled kabalen find jobs and no longer have to go abroad and leave their families),” Guiao said.
Guiao stressed the need for a concerted effort among the local officials and businessmen to push for the full development of Clark airport.
“Masanting ya pung balita na umpisan de itang terminal ta mu karin. P1.2 billion ya pu (It is good news that they are going to start the P1.2-billion airport terminal). Pasalamat tamu Secretary Jun Abaya (Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Pasalamat tamu pu kang Budget Secretary Butch Abad ampo pu kang PNoy (President Aquino),” Guiao said.
The national government has earmarked a total of P7.2 billion for the Clark airport terminal, according to him.
‘Ing total funding na pu ning airport a ita P7.2 billion, so itamu pu kening distritu ing makinabang kanita (It has a total funding of P7.2 billion and our district will benefit from that),” Guiao said.