Amid Naia congestion, Gordon pushes for Clark, Subic development

Senator Richard Gordon. RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Richard Gordon will initiate a legislative inquiry into what he described as the stalled development of freeport zones in Subic, Zambales and Clark, Pampanga, particularly the ready airport infrastructure in the two former United States military bases.

Gordon made the call late Monday night upon receiving reports on flight diversions from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), where air operations were suspended for repairs on the damaged runway.

“I intend to investigate why Subic has lost its equipment and why Clark has not been utilized in full. This will be in aid of legislation, in aid of progress,” Gordon told the Inquirer by phone late Monday night.

He said it was a “travesty” that the two freeport zones had been left largely stale even while it had runways and other infrastructure ready for mass air transport.

Gordon was mayor of Olongapo City at the time the US naval base in Subic, which was located in his turf, and the American air base in nearby Clark shut operations per the vote of the Philippine Senate in 1991.

He said he worked for the 1992 law that paved the way for the conversion of the former bases into freeport zones.

“It falls upon the three-week-old Duterte administration to fast track the development of Subic and Clark … It also saves us from reputational damage,” Gordon told the Inquirer.

Receiving complaints about Monday’s Naia mess, Gordon expressed frustration over repeated problems at the country’s main gateway due to long unresolved congestion.

READ: Naia repairs force 8 planes to divert to Clark

“It’s sheer stupidity that we have these wonderful infrastructure [in Subic and Clark] and they’re not being used. People suffer daily at the NAIA. Nakakahiya (It’s embarrassing),” said Gordon. CDG/rga

READ: PAL backs proposal to move general aviation ops out of Naia