Full operation of Clark int’l airport pushed

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Presidential son and Pampanga Vice Gov. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo lauded yesterday President Arroyo for ordering the expansion and full operations of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in this special economic zone.

"This airport is the project for the future as it will signal and spark the speedy development of Clark into a business, investment and tourism haven and as the heart of a future metropolis and national government center," the young Arroyo said.

He said he batted for the operation of the DMIA as an alternate to the already overcrowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before and during his campaign for the vice governorship.

Arroyo recalled that many local leaders boldly and unfairly criticized him and the President in the local and national media allegedly "for doing nothing" to operate the DMIA as a domestic and international airport.

"Despite my campaign and statements in the national and local media for the operation of the airport and for them to give the government time to do so, these so-called leaders continued their criticisms of the President and myself," he said.

"I wonder what these so-called leaders, some of them even appointed by the President to some government positions, are saying now that the President has made it clear that the DMIA will immediately be operationalized," he said.

At the centennial celebration of Clark Field as a United States military base, the President ordered the release of P100 million to initially fund the facilities that will make the airport ready to welcome the influx of foreign and domestic tourists.

The President also ordered that some domestic and international flights be allowed to land and take off here.