Mayors hit for stalling road project

Politics reared its stinking head, once again, when Metro mayors who form the Metro Manila Council (MMC) stalled its endorsement of the construction of an expressway to the new terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"It’s sheer arrogance and dirty political maneuver to delay action on a very simple request that will benefit their municipalities," said Adriano Nacorda, director of PROFIL, a movement that supports the construction of the modern airport terminal adjacent to Pasay and Parañaque cities.

Nacorda is urging members of the MMC to cast aside "jurisdiction over turf concerns to facilitate the construction of the airport terminal."

He further stressed that the project will not only decongest the traffic leading to the airport but it will also hasten travel to other thoroughfares.

The said expressway will form part of the NAIA Passenger Terminal III (NAIA IPT 3). This expansion would benefit the local government and its constituents by boosting economic activity, employment and revenues. It is also deemed to become the premier gateway as part of the government’s program to attract more tourists into the country.

The MMC upon the request of Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez deferred the endorsement to Malacañang. An official of the DPWH conducted a brief presentation of the road project but was reportedly "scolded" by the mayors due to the department’s alleged failure to consult with local government officials.

"This is a national government project whose benefits will rebound to them and this is just a simple endorsement. It is local officials like these that hamper the growth and progress of the country. No wonder President Gloria Arroyo is having a hard time pushing the country forward," Nacorda added.