GMA told: Operate Clark or else...

ANGELES CITY — An influential local group instrumental in ousting former President Estrada has issued a 100-day ultimatum for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare Clark a full-fledged international airport.

The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement, headed by businessman Ruperto Cruz, expressed fears yesterday that the new Chief Executive might have struck a "sweetheart deal" with proponents of the new passenger terminal (NAIA 3) for the old airport (NAIA 1).

Former President Ramos inked a contract with Philippine Air Terminals Corp. (Piatco) in 1997 for the development of NAIA 3 under the build-operate-transfer scheme, but Estrada amended this on Dec. 1999.

In effect, the deposed president barred not only its development as an international airport, but downsized as well its maximum passenger capacity of 1.5 million to mere 80,000 each year, until NAIA 3 has served 10 million passengers for three consecutive years.

The PGKM likewise questioned the appointment of Pantaleon Alvarez as secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications who vowed to realize the NAIA 3 project during his watch.

"If Alvarez has a stake in the project, it can be safely concluded that he may have a bid interest as a partner of Lucio Tan and other Estrada cronies," Cruz said.

The group vowed to block Alvarez’s confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

The PKGM said that if the new administration fails to operate Clark within the 100-day ultimatum even just for domestic flights, "it cannot help but conclude that Arroyo has struck a sweetheart deal with major stockholders at the NAIA 3 project."