Arroyo to pass bill to remove red tape

CLARK FREEPORT – After suffering delays and setbacks on the expansion of Clark airport, a law must be passed that will speed up the process of awarding investment contracts to private sector.

Former President and newly-installed Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to pass a bill to eliminate red tape particularly on tedious government process on awarding of investment contracts to be able to enhance the country’s foreign direct investment portfolio.

In a meeting with airport and local officials here, Mrs. Arroyo cited the case of the long-stalled development program of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), envisioned as the country’s next premier international gateway, which failed to award its development contract under the Build-Operate-Transfer scheme.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) chairman and concurrent Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) Chairman Nestor Mangio told Business World that Mrs. Arroyo has instructed them to submit all pertinent documents related to the DMIA expansion project to clearly identify the root of the project delays which he said, could be traced to red tape.

As defined, red tape is a mocking term for excessive regulation or rigid conformity, usually applied to government rules, that is considered redundant or bureaucratic that hinders processes or action.

Red tape generally includes the filling out of seemingly unnecessary paperwork, obtaining of unnecessary licenses, having multiple agencies approve a decision making slower transaction.

Mr. Mangio said that the “informal meeting” was held shortly after Mrs. Arroyo led the inauguration of the P308-million DMIA Terminal 1 Expansion Building last Saturday. He added that the expansion of the airport here will suffer more delays if the monotonous government process will not be changed.

The DMIA Terminal I is expected to accommodate an additional 500,000 travelers a year and become a major gateway for tourism and trade in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo was also joined by Pampanga 1st District Representative Carmelo Lazatin, Angeles City Mayor Eduardo Pamintuan, re-elected Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales, Land Transportation Office Region 3 Director Oliver Macaspac, and other officials.

“This will be one of the most important legacies of our President (Arroyo). It took a lot of political will to have this expansion of the DMIA in order to boost its operations into a premier gateway to the country and a world-class airport that all Filipinos can be proud of,” Mr. Mangio said.

Mr. Mangio also cited the plan of Manuel V. Pangilinan, chair of telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), to invest billions of pesos in tourism and transportation-related projects in Central Luzon, which will benefit when Mrs. Arroyo pass the proposed bill in Congress.

“Mr. Pangilinan has already expressed intentions to contract the construction and management the DMIA terminal II in partnership with San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang and the government should act swiftly to be able to realize the project without delays,” Mr. Mangio said.

Mr. Mangio also noted the plan for DMIA to build has a high speed railway system and airport hotels, similar to that in Hong Kong International Airport to complement the DMIA terminal expansion project.
Mr. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investment Corp. recently bagged the contract to maintain and operate the 94-kilometer long Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. It also operates the 8-km Subic Tipo Road that connects SCTEx to the Subic Bay Freeport.
On the same occasion, Mrs. Arroyo likewise led the ceremonial laying of time capsule for the construction of a modern facility that will serve as the special lounge for prominent personalities using private aircraft.

A project of VIP Jet Services Inc., a US-based company engaged in aircraft charter services, is expected to turn the DMIA into an “aircraft hub” for small or regional jets for very prominent visitors.

“I hope Madam President that the incoming administration will share your vision and passion to get foreign investors into the country and that we will be able to go ahead with our plan to operate this facility by the middle of 2012,” VIP Jet Services owner Dean Cambe Sr said.

Cambe said VIPs and celebrities come in with their private jets and security and his company will provide limousine services with escorts to VIP facility that has executive suites where the guests could stay overnight. Rey Garcia