Senatorial candidate and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Tuesday vowed to modernize the Subic Bay and Clark International Airports to address the worsening air traffic congestion in Metro Manila should he win a Senate seat.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, lamented that the two airports in Pampanga and Zambales failed to get a big boost from the government despite the perennial traffic congestion problem at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“Modernizing these two airports will be a compassionate act to decongest the air traffic problem in Metro Manila. The improvements that could be done there by upgrading the facilities would translate to developments,” Romualdez, who ran unopposed in the last polls and former chair of the House committee on ethics and privileges, stressed.
“This [modernizing the airports] will further boost Pampanga and Zambales as one of the best tourist destinations in Luzon,” Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc and a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance, pointed out.
Romualdez whose key platform of governance focuses on improving jobs, health, education, agriculture and disaster preparedness recalled that the Subic International Airport was used as back-up airport for the delegates of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit during the time of the Ramos administration.
Romualdez reiterated his call for the country’s transport officials to expedite its action in addressing the horrible air traffic congestion at Naia.
“Many passengers have been experiencing scariest flight where aircrafts are asked to fly “overtime” or beyond flight schedules because of traffic congestion,” said Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who are all running for president, said.
Romualdez lamented that the Aquino administration’s ““analysis” leading to “paralysis” approach in handling projects and programs which should have improved the lives of the Filipino people.
Romualdez said worthy proposals that could have showed long-term and genuine malasakit (compassion) to ordinary people have not been implemented immediately.
“The government has failed to make progress because of too much details, tweaking, brainstorming, research and among others in making important decisions that would benefit the poor people,” Romualdez said.
“They only have almost four months left in office. Time is up for studying. That studying line went on for too long that it has become an analysis leading to paralysis,” Romualdez added.
“At the end of the day, whatever the President’s decision he will arrive at will make or break his advocacy in championing the interest of his bosses. He will be accountable to that,” Romualdez stressed.