1 week Ago By Max Sangil
What happened, may I ask. The United States government supposedly gave more than $27 million or P1.4 billion for the upgrade of the runway of Basa Air Base in Florida Blanca.
Was it done? Was the money ever reached the Philippine Air Force? For many years, many PAF officials were that not only the runway that needs to be upgraded and that the whole camp should be modernized like the installation of a new radar, rehabilitation of the buildings and enclosed it with high perimeter walls for its security. And hopefully too the Air Force contingent based in Clark Freeport be relocated there.The American presence in the country, despite President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, is now being felt easily and slowly.
It is basically the the West Philippine sea issue and China’s rattling the sword vs Taiwan. ********* There were filtering reports that the wide area being occupied inside The Clark Freeport by the Philippine Air Force contingent will soon be freed. That the contingent will be moved to an area in New Clark City.
This may happen but I bet not soon. I remember then in 2001, me and Victor Yap were members of the board of directors of Clark Development Corporation and were tasked to discuss with the air force officials regarding the relocation. The problem posed then was the reluctance of the PAF officials to move out.
Their demands for one thing is to replicate whatever will be demolished. The buildings and the houses in the new location were to be similar. That requires a big budgetary allocation which CDC can’t afford.
Well for all you know, Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) President Joshua Bingcang can find the right solution and can source some money from sales proceeds being presently undertaken, like the sale of Manila International Airport. ************** LOCAL POLITICS: The latest news last weekend was the dismissal of Porac Mayor Jaime ‘Jing’ Capil. The Ombudsman found Capil neglect of duty.
The decision in part said Capil has been dismissed from service and is permanently disqualified from holding any public office. I queried Relito Laxamana a close aide of Capil of their reaction and he said they will appeal the Ombudsman’s decision. According to him, pending the appeal, Capil’s name will remain in the ballot.
..It will be a battle royale in Mexico town.
It’s a toss up between Mayor Ruding Gonzales and Architect Tumang. It will also be Micah Gonzales vs Dra. Hazel Tumang in the congressional race in the third district.
It’s head to head too...
I admire Angeles City Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin for still making the rounds and meeting the voters and barangay officials despite he is already a clear winner since he is running by his lonesome in the first congressional district. NOTES: We moved the regular fellowship of Monday Club from Ribeye Restaurant to Cactus Jack, a resto on the ground floor of Best Western Hotel in Balibago in Angeles City. The big boss of BWH and Cactus Jack is Jack Uy, a visionary like his younger brother Dennis, the tech genius.
***** Some weeks ago I was one of the hundreds of attendees from several water companies,both government and private, who listened to President Bongbong Marcos and detailed in his speech his administration’s program in how to mitigate the looming water crisis in the country. Guy Lopez, general manager of the Angeles City Water District briefed the president on the water issue while they were on the way to the meeting hall of SMX convention arena at the Mall of Asia in Pasay city. There are several issues on water.
I hope to discuss them in my future columns..
