THE Presidential candidates have started leaking names of prospective appointees to the Cabinet and other plum positions in government.
No Kapampangan bright boy has been considered for appointment except former Candaba mayor Jerry Pelayo who believes he is material for the Departmemt of Agriculture under a Binay presidency.
My personal choice as a good prospect in the next administration is Alexander Cauguiran, which is if City Mayor Ed Pamintuan would let go off his dynamic and organization-savvy Chief of Staff.
That the Clark airport development has been, and will be, the priority and endless agenda of the incoming President, a Pampango head and CEO of the Clark International Airport Corp. should be considered for the post.
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But getting appointed to the CIAC presidency is not merely a matter of credentials such as Alex possesses. I suggest, therefore, that Mayor Pamintuan take the political risk, by throwing his political support to a "winning" candidate for president. He should not let this opportunity just go by.
That is the logical and practical investment if we want Cauguiran get the top job at CIAC. I understand that the leading Presidential bets have been courting the world-rated city mayor for his support. Although EdPam has intimated he was not committing himself to any candidate, he needs to do it for the sake of his friend and for the cause of airport development.
Cauguiran has given up his obsession to be vice mayor at the behest of EdPam. One favor deserves another. What better and magnificent favor can the mayor reward a loyal and devoted ally than making possible Alex's appointment at the CIAC. All that the mayor needs to do his choose a presidential bet and help the bet win in his turf.
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Easily the largest home-grown political party in the Metro Clark area is the Partido Abe Kapampangan. It is precisely the target of the presidential candidates' attempt to win Mayor EdPam to their cause.
Cauguiran is PAK president. If the influential group aligns itself to a "chosen one" the Pak"s core of support becomes nuclear, with thousands of votes as fallout from the eruption.
I wonder if the Mayor will take this gamble and risk either a defeat or emerge victorious.
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Alex Caugiran was CIAC Executive Vice Pres. & COO during the GMA era. He was in the forefront in the challenges and goals to bring commercial flights at the once "lifeless" Clark Airport. He was auxiliary to the struggles to increase seat entitlements for CRK. He led missions for bilateral talks with several nations and worked to enlarge the passenger and cargo capacity of the airport.
Alex, this early, has crafted a Four-point agenda for the Development of Clark airport and a corollary Decongest Metro Manila proposal.
His plan has become the bible of national candidates in preaching their development gospels. Chief of these is to legislate the MNlL-CRK Dual Airport System and a score of plans to ease travel requirements of OFWS and a One Stop Government Center at Clark to help decongest MNL air travel protocol.
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I find no potential prospect as experienced, learned, and passionate as Cauguiran in Clark airport development. However things just do not happen or rewards fall into place. One has to invest in and work hard for them.
Mayor EdPam owes his battle-tested ally this one favor. He can choose a "winning" Presidential aspirant and throw the might of PAK to the chosen one. Alex and EdPam have a long history of risk-taking. If this ends in failure or victory, aiming for the CIAC post is a gamble worth playing.