CIAC workers: ‘Include us in Clark airport development’

CLARK FREEPORT — Employees of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) have expressed their sentiments over the airport privatization plan by the national government.

The airport workers, belonging to the Samahan Ng Mga Manggagawa ng Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (SMD), has set a series of activities to air their grievances.

Manny Banez, president of the CIAC workers union, said their group is not against

government in categorizing Pampanga’s current land uses, as well as branding and marketing the province to different kinds of local and foreign investors.

“Malaking bagay ito. Kasi unlike before, if you are opening a business, kahit saan pwede kang magtayo. Ngayon if you want to put up, let’s say for example, a batching plant or poultry, we will know the specific areas in the province where our investors can best invest at,” he said.

“It can be noted that part of the masterplan is the zoning. And with this, any approving authority can now approve the project based on the criteria and requirements of our zoning,” he added.

The Pampanga Megalopolis plan divides the province into four clusters: Agropolis is composed of the towns of Lubao, Guagua, Sta. Rita, Bacolor, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Sto. Tomas, Sta. Ana and Magalang; Aquapolis comprises the towns of Sasmuan, Macabebe, Minalin, Masantol, and Lubao; the Aerotropolis is made up of Mabalacat City, Angeles City, City of San Fernando, and Mexico town; and the Ecopolis consists of Arayat and Candaba in the Northeast and Porac and Floridablanca in the West.

Moreover, Nicdao said that as partners of the provincial government for countryside development, the chamber vows to support the project and its implementation.

“We will dissect the masterplan and see what else we can suggest. And as we have agreed upon with our governor, we will do another feasibility study which will focus on determining what kind of businesses and industries will complement Architect Palafox’s masterplan,” he relayed.

The business leader disclosed that the chamber will also be involved in putting up a project management office.

“Governor Pineda plans to launch a new office which will serve as a headquarters and meeting place of PamCham representatives and technical working committee for this Megalopolis project,” he said.

“This office will also serve as a conference center where we can meet prospective locators and investors and discuss with them our strategic plan,” he continued.

Governor Lilia Pineda announced that the construction of the said office outside the Capitol will start this February.

For his part, PamCham Chairman Emeritus Levy P. Laus also relayed the importance of the megalopolis plan. He said that the masterplan will help the province avoid the urban ills of Metro Manila.

“With this masterplan, we can avoid the mistakes of Metro Manila. The need to decongest the metro is already there and we don’t want the same situation it faces today. We want to develop the countryside in a way that we are both progressive and livable,” he noted.

The businessman concluded that with Governor Pineda’s visionary leadership, Palafox’s comprehensive development plan, and the improvement of the province’s transportation and mobility, Pampanga can further strengthen its place as one of the top investment destination in the country.

“Right now, we have a good hindsight of the province’s future. We are looking forward to a more progressive megalopolis in the years to come,” he said.