Clark Freeport, Pampanga “• Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Alexander S. Cauguiran is resigning from his post to run in next year’s midterm elections for mayor of Angeles City, he announced Monday.
Cauguiran, who joined the CIAC in 2016, will be succeeded by Jaime Melo, the government firm’s vice president of airport operations.
Cauguiran will resign on or before the filling of certificate of candidacy as mandated by the Commission on Elections on Oct. 16 to run as mayor of Angeles, which surrounds Clark Freeport.
Before joining the CIAC, Cauguiran was the chief of staff of incumbent Angeles Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan. He also served as city councilor from 1998 to 2004.
The airport chief will be running under Partido Abe Kapampangan, a local party he heads and is recognized by the Comelec.
Cauguiran will be facing two incumbents, Vice Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno and Councilor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., for the mayoralty.
Pamintuan will finish his third term or nine years of service as city mayor, which prohibits him from running for the same position under the law.
Pamintuan is planning to run as congressman of the 1st District of Pampanga, comprising the highly urbanized city of Angeles, Mabalacat City, and the town of Magalang with a total population of 775,580 based on the 2015 census.
The incumbent mayor will be facing sitting 1st District Rep. Carmelo B. Lazatin II, the son of former mayor and congressman Carmelo F Lazatin, currently the barangay captain of Balibago village.
Also touted to run in the same district is basketball coach and former congressman Joseller “Yeng” M. Guiao, son of the former Pampanga governor.
Cauguiran holds commerce and public administrations degrees from Holy Angel University and Angeles University Foundation, respectively.
The 61-year-old has held several positions in public and private service. He was the political attaché of the Philippines Consulate in San Francisco, California from August 1, 2004 up to August 1, 2005; assistant secretary of the office External Affairs, Malacanang from June 1, 2004 up to June 1, 2006; and member of the Philippines negotiating panel between the government and National Democratic Front from May 10, 2010, among others.
During his stint as CIAC president and CEO, Cauguiran increased the airline companies operating and passenger capacity of CRK though aggressive marketing here and abroad.
Meanwhile the Angeles City Council approved over the weekend a resolution endorsing the P50-billion Subic-Clark Railway Project.
The SCRP is considered as of the country’s big ticket items in infrastructure. It is a 71-kilometer single-track railway between the Port of Subic Bay and Clark International Airport with additional 15 kilometer extension to New Clark City.
It’s initial operation is for freight service, with future expansion to accommodate passenger service.
The Sangguniang Panlunsod en banc unanimously passed a resolution that supports the implementation of the project, a vital infrastructure that will link two major ports in Central Luzon.
The SCRP also aims for infrastructure connectivity and mobility operation with Philippine National Railway lines from Manila to Clark, Manila to Bicol, Sorsogon and Manila to Batangas.
Councilors adopted the report prepared by the Committee on Clark Special Economic Zone. The project is seen to spur greater economic benefits, said Councilor Jesus Sangil, who chairs the committee.
“During the time of then President [Fidel] Ramos, as then head of the Clark Field Association of Journalists, we passed a resolution urging Malacanang to designate Clark airport as the Philippines’ premiere gateway,” Sangil said.
“This called for support infra projects like modern railway system and road networks. And we are seeing all these fall into place. Under the Build Build Build program of President Duterte, this will see fruition for our citizens in Central and Northern Luzon,” he added.
The project, Sangil said aims to provide freight and commuter rail service to ease traffic and port congestions in Metro Manila and promote rural and value chain economic development within the Subic-Clark economic corridor.