Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Image from MIAA
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is proposing that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) be split into business parks named after the late former President Ferdinand Marcos and the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
As soon as airports outside of Metro Manila are completed and functioning, Cayetano added, the plan might move forward.
During Thursday’s Senate finance subcommittee deliberations on the DPWH’s proposed 2023 budget, Cayetano brought up the idea when inquiring about public park plans.
When the future airports in Cavite and Bulacan become operational, the senator urged the DPWH to reconstruct structures like the Naia into a park rather than letting local government units construct or pay for them.
According to the senator, such a proposal was raised during the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“One of the proposals during the Duterte administration is if matuloy ‘yong Bulacan and Cavite airport, gawin nang park kahit kalahati ng Naia ‘di ba? At ito magiging lungs o central park ng Pilipinas then ‘yong kalahait i-benta as a central business district,” Cayetano said.
(One of the proposals during the Duterte administration is once the Bulacan and Cavite airports push through, half of the Naia would be turned into a park, right? And this would be the lungs or the central park of the Philippines, while the other half can be sold as a central business district.)
“Actually ako may amended proposal doon, ‘yong kalahati gawing park, ‘yong kalahati hatiin sa dalawa. ‘Yong una gawing Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Business Park, ‘yong kalahati gawing Ninoy Aquino Business Park para mag-compete ‘yong mga negosyante rather than boycott, boycott, tignan na lang natin kung saan sila pupunta doon sa dalawa, ‘di ba?” he added.
(Actually, I have an amended proposal. The other half of Naia would be divided into two. One half would be the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Business Park, while the other half would be the Ninoy Aquino Business Park to avoid boycotts. Let’s see which one has more patrons, right?)
Cayetano said instead of Marcos and Aquino’s supporters bickering online about the name, they will compete to stimulate the economy. But, while chuckling, he admitted that either camp might bash him.
“Eh competition works eh, que sa sa nag-aaway sa internet kung ire-rename o hindi, pareho naman silang naging part of our history ‘no,” he said. “So double bashing ‘to mamaya, both sides.”
(Competition serves its purpose. Supporters won’t just be a footnote in internet history, arguing over which name the airport should bear. Thus, I would receive criticism from both camps in the end. )
“So having said that Mr. Chair I would just like to emphasize na baka gusto niyong tignan na rather than — I understand no na lupa ang pinag-uusapan dito and whether it’s national or local government, but ito pinaka-mura for DPWH kasi ito ay basically site development ‘di ba, except for some structures,” he added.
(Having said that, Mr. Chair, I would like to emphasize that you may want to look at this rather than building parks. I understand that we are talking about the national or local land, but this may be the cheapest option for DPWH because this is basically site development only, except for some structures.)
Before airing his proposal, Cayetano asked what the DPWH’s instruction under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration is — to which Bonoan said it is Build Better More.
Build Better More shares the initials the President is known for — BBM, or Bongbong Marcos.
The Marcoses and the Aquinos have been considered political rivals for the longest time. During the term of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was the leading opposition figure.
The late former president Marcos is the father of the incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., while the Naia is named after the late Senator Ninoy Aquino.
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