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Friday, March 29, 2024

Building of world-class airport in Bulacan backed

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The building of a world-class airport in Bulacan projected to create more than a million new jobs drew support from various OFW groups which urged the government to hasten the final negotiations for its construction.

In separate letters sent to both the Office of the President and the Department of Transportation, the OFW groups noted that the aspirations of the OFWs for a better life and a better Philippines are rising.

“One of our deepest aspirations is to have a world-class airport that we can all be proud of, that can unlock our country’s growth potential so that our beloved OFWs would have something better to come home to – for good,” they wrote.

The 14 OFW groups which signed the petition letters were the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines, OFW Watch, OFW Chamber of Commerce, OFW Council of Leaders-KSA, Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc, LBS Recruitment Solutions Corp, Philippine Association of Migrant Workers & Advocates, Kaibigan ng OCWs, OFW Committee, Zonta Club of Quezon City, United Filipino Seafarers, Ang Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW, Filipino Malaysian Cultural Sports and Workforce Training Program and the Bulacan Federation of OFW Family Circle Officers.

Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said they wrote the letter as an expression of support not just to the building of a new airport in Bulacan but also for other major infrastructure projects that would lead to job creation and OFW reintegration.

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“Optimism is high that once these critical projects begin, then floodgates for more jobs and potential investments will be flung wide open. Hopefully, more of our OFWs would be enticed to return and reunite with their families because more local jobs would be open to them,” Ople said.

In their letter, the OFWs cited the following reasons as the basis of their support:

“Around 4,000 to 5,000 OFWs leave the country daily. They deserve an international airport that is efficient, comfortable and can be just as accessible and conveniently situated as NAIA.”

“The construction of this new airport over a span of five to six years will create new jobs and businesses that would increase the productivity of our workers and entice our OFWs to reintegrate home.”

“The airport project will be financed without using taxpayers’ funds.”

The OFW groups also noted that Bulacan province is fast-becoming the next growth area. It is adjacent to Metro Manila and a strategic neighbor of Pampanga, thus accelerating and strengthening the growth corridor for investments and tourism for the Central Luzon-Northern Luzon corridor.

The NMIA, as proposed and envisioned by San Miguel Corporation, will have a world-class terminal, four runways, a road network, connection to MRT and ferry services.

The building of a new international airport in Bulacan is projected to create more than a million new jobs while easing perennial flood problems in the province through the building of a coastal highway that would also serve as a spillway.

“We look forward to witnessing the completion of not just one but perhaps several new other international airports nationwide within our lifetime. This would truly make our OFWs proud to come home,” Ople said.

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