Aquino urged to shift airport operations from NAIA to DMIA

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines  – Former presidents Ramos and Arroyo did it. Now, Kapampangan and other leaders from Central Luzon anticipate President Aquino to reaffirm it.

In a meeting here, the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), composed of mayors of towns around this freeport and representatives from business and other sectors in Central Luzon, issued a resolution urging the Aquino government to commit to fully develop the international airport here named after the father of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whose administration he wants investigated for alleged anomalies.

The Clark International Airport here was renamed Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in 2003 during the term of Mrs. Arroyo, in honor of her father who was also a Philippine president.

The MCAC resolution noted that in 1994, President Ramos issued Executive Order No.174 designating Clark as “the future site of the country’s premiere international airport.” It also said that during her term, Mrs. Arroyo manifested her plans to convert the DMIA into a premiere airport by providing funds for its development, including the P308 million expansion of its passenger terminal.

Mrs. Arroyo had frequently declared that the DMIA could serve as a better alternative to Manila’s already cramped Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which was named after President Aquino’s late father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The MCAC also noted the “recent spate of diversionary flights from the NAIA which made the DMIA the refuge of incoming international and domestic flights.”

“The government should now look immediately into the further development of the DMIA because these recent diversion of flights have proven beyond doubt that our airport here can accommodate the widest of commercial airport,” said MCAC co-chairman Mabalacat, Mayor Marino Morales.