www.punto.com.ph inside pages P 10.00 Pacman’s Volume 14 Number 37 Central Mon - Sat two ‘wars’ July 19-24, 2021 Punto! See The Public Space, Page 5 PANANAW NG MALAYANG PILIPINO! Luzon --Photo by Borj Meneses “MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENT” CRK to propel PH economy By By Bong Z. Lacson LARK FREEPORT – “Massive achievement.” A visibly impressed President Duterte called the new terminal of the Clark International Airport on Chis inspection visit during the weekend. “I just hope that the ed the Department of The construction of local economy can ab- Transportation, Bases the structure was han- sorb the number of peo- Conversion and Devel- dled by a consortium of ple coming to visit the opment Authority and Megawide Construction Philippines,” he said in private sector partners Corp. and GMR Infra- his speech. “It will sure- for the new passenger structure Limited, while ly help decongest traffic terminal which is consid- the fit out, operations at the busy Ninoy [Aqui- ered as the first hybrid and maintenance were no] International Airport public-private partner- later auctioned off and and provide a better fly- ship project complet- awarded to Luzon Inter- ing experience for locals ed under the Build Build national Premiere Air- and tourists alike.” Build program of his ad- port Development Corp. Duterte commend- ministration. Page 7 please President Duterte with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, BCDA chief Vince Dizon and LIPAD CEO Bi Yong Chungunco trying the self check-in counter at CRK. Photo courtesy of Malacañang Cebu Pacific eyes PASSENGER LOUNGE growth with CRK CLARK FREEPORT -- ations officer at Cebu crease in the coming “We have consistently Pacific during the in- months.” maintained our pres- spection of the new ter- “As more people ence at the Clark Air- minal of CRK, calling get vaccinated, more port for 15 years it “a welcome develop- travelers would be con- now and we remain ment for air travel” and fident to fly again, be it committed to continue vowing that CEB “aims for essential or leisure supporting the growth to progressively restore travel,” noted Shau. of North Luzon.” its network for North CEB began operat- So said Michael Luzon with demand for ing in Clark in 2006 with Ivan Shau, chief oper- travel expected to in- Page 6 please CONTACTLESS BAG DROP AirAsia to restore Clark airport hub CLARK FREEPORT Isla at the sidelines of the new terminal is expected – “Once travel restrictions inspection and dry run to decongest passenger ease and demand picks of the world-class pas- traffic at the Ninoy Aquino up soon, we are eyeing to senger terminal building International Airport with strategically restore AirA- of the Clark International its annual 8 million pas- sia’s Clark hub hopefully Airport on Saturday. senger capacity. by Q4 of 2021.” Dubbed as Asia’s next “AirAsia is one with Thus, spoke AirAsia premier gateway for North the Filipino people in cel- -Photos courtesy of BCDA Philippines CEO Ricky and Central Luzon, the Page 6 please SBMA bans bikers at container terminal road, issues rules for road safety By Malou Dungog of the Argonaut Highway and Corregidor Road SUBIC BAY FREEPORT and loops around the – The Subic Bay Metro- airport area. “That area politan Authority has pro- southwest of the airport, hibited bikers from using from the Acea Subic the New Container Ter- Beach Resort until the minal (NCT) road here All Hands Beach Resort, in a move to maintain is as scenic but not as safety at the thorough- busy,” she pointed out. fare used mainly by car- The allowed route, go trucks. however, stops short of SBMA chair and ad- the NCT and bikers must ministrator Wilma T. Eis- turn back to exit at the ma announced this poli- same entry point. cy following consultation The SBMA has im- with cycling groups in the posed a fine of P2,000 Subic Bay Freeport area for cyclists violating the and the formulation of ban at the NCT Road, Mass action eyed vs. Subic-Clark Railway alignment guidelines covering bik- Eisma said. ing activities in the free- At the same time, the By Ashley Manabat titled properties outside its juris- high-rise buildings will soon rise in port. SBMA issued guidelines diction. Porac and the town will be trans- “We regret to inform for safe biking in the free- CLARK FREEPORT – A mass Cruz said the PGKM will mo- formed into “the Makati of Pam- bikers that the NCT Road port. These rules, which action led by the Pinoy Gumising bilize a mass action composed of panga, if not Central Luzon.” is now off limits to bik- took effect on July 14, in- Ka Movement (PGKM) will cul- land owners and housing devel- “Why insist on the alignment ers because we have to clude ID checks at free- minate here if the alignment of opers, businessmen, farmers and that will affect development in the place a premium on the port gates upon entry, the Subic-Clark Railway Project those whose properties will be af- area?” Cruz asked. “Why did they safety of all—whether use of safety gears and (SCRP) will push through with its fected by the alignment. not consider the present Subic- they are bikers, truckers, lights, maintenance of original design. He also said if push comes to Clark Tarlac Expressway (SC- or ordinary motorists,” safe distance, road cour- This, as the multi-sectoral shove, the PGKM will “take it to TEX) alignment for the railway Eisma said. tesy and traffic rules, and advocacy group questioned on the Senate hearing.” project?” “We know that it has observance of health Tuesday the authority of the Bas- Cruz said “the railway project He said “the multi-billion cost become a favorite place and safety protocols at es Conversion Development Au- is just a table survey because it of the project will be of better use if among bikers because all times. thority over lands outside the for- lacks a proper study on how it will a railway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte the road is good and the The guidelines spe- mer US bases. impact on the lives and livelihood to Clark, Pampanga that can both route is scenic, but we cifically disallowed rac- PGKM chair Ruperto Cruz of the people.” ferry cargo and passengers will have to set rules to pre- ing and also prohibited said RA 7227 or the Bases Con- Cruz said Porac is destined to be built instead.” vent untoward incidents,” crowding at bike stops, version and Development Act of become a city soon because of Meanwhile, Lani Macasaet, she added, referring to as well as littering. 1992 is an act “accelerating the the ongoing development in the BCDA communications director, an accident during an il- On the other hand, conversion of military reserva- area but the railway project will said the Department of Trans- legal race at the NCT Eisma said that should tions into other productive uses throw a monkey wrench in the on- portation is in charge f the SCRP Road last month. bikers like to organize cy- and does not include properties going development. alignment. She referred Punto The NCT Road, cling events in the Free- outside the base lands.” “Besides it’s just a rail freight Central Luzon to DOTr Assistant which stretches north- port, the SBMA would Cruz said the SCRP is “being transport because it will be used Secretary Goddes Libiran. east of the Subic Bay In- require them to sub- implemented without any public only for cargo,” Cruz added. However, texts and calls to Li- ternational Airport, was mit a proposal at least consultation at all” even if its align- He said ongoing projects in biran’s cellphone remain unan- closed to bikers since six months before the ment will reportedly encroach on the area will be affected. He said swered as of press time. June 19 when an illegal scheduled event, which race organized by some would also be subject to bikers from Olongapo IATF approval. MABALACAT CITYHOOD City resulted in a spill in- Meanwhile, volunteer COMMEMORATION. volving several bikers as marshals from local cy- Mabalacat City Mayor they converged on one cling groups would help Crisostomo Garbo joins lane to overtake a cargo monitor and enforce the city government officials truck. A 14-year-old bik- biking rules. The mar- in a simple yet solemn er was among those re- shals would be in direct commemoration program portedly injured. contact with the SBMA for the 9th Charter Day of Eisma said that bik- Law Enforcement De- Mabalacat on July 21, 2021 ers may instead use the partment for effec- San Bernardino Road tive monitoring and re- at the City Hall. Mabalacat that starts at the junction sponse, Eisma added. was converted into a component city in July 2012 by virtue of Republic Act 10164 signed by former President Benigno Aquino III. (Mabalacat CIO) Mabalaqueños significant in building ‘Bayung Mabalacat’ – Mayor Garbo MABALACAT CITY – was a bold attempt to yhood anniversary theme hope, and perseverance, “Only when it is dark break the years-long mo- implies more than “good especially in these try- enough can you see the notony in Mabalacat City. fortune”. Mayor Garbo ing times, for these shall stars.” As I recall, I even com- cited Galatians 5:22 to illuminate our path for a Citing these inspiring pared the situation of our 23 to urge an underlying brighter future ahead,” words from Nobel Peace city to a “seed in the dark”, challenge for each Ma- said Mayor Garbo as Prize awardee Martin Lu- yearning for sunlight for it balaqueño of keeping the he extends his heartfelt ther King, Mabalacat City to grow and prosper,” said compassion and faith to thanks to the essential Mayor Crisostomo Gar- Mayor Garbo.