CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Pampanga First District Representative Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said Wednesday the next president of the country should push for the full development of the Clark International Airport.
“It's the right thing to do and should be a priority of the next president,” Guiao told Sun.Star Pampanga.
Guiao said Clark can contribute a lot to the country's economic progress in terms of job generation, tourism growth, business expansion in the countryside and poverty alleviation.
“The new administration can never go wrong with Clark as part of its socio-economic agenda because it holds so much potential in that regard,” he said.
Guiao, who has been dubbed Mr. Clark in the House of Representatives because of his relentless legislative advocacy for Clark in the House of Representatives, said he was encouraged by the pronouncements of the 2016 presidentiables favoring Clark.
“It's expected not because it resonates with what we in Pampanga and Central Luzon want to happen but it really does make sense for the country over the long-term,” he said.
But Guiao said the presidentiables should be more specific.
“They should put their money where their mouth is, so to speak,” he said, “by telling exactly to what degree they will support Clark.”
Whoever wins should be made accountable, he added.
He said the next president should have a definitive policy for Clark for the airport to fully take off as global gateway for the countryside.
“If that's the objective -- and it should be -- a clear-cut policy is in order,” he said.
AT the same time, Guiao credited the Aquino Administration for its support for the development of the airport.
“In fairness, President Aquino has always been supportive of Clark, maybe not to the extent that we Kapampangan have expected of him, but he's aligned with our vision for it,” he said.
Guiao is a member of the Liberal Party and close friend of the Aquinos.