BANI—Could politics be still be a criterion in determining priorities for projects under the Aquino administration?

This question was raised by Capitol observers after President Benigno Aquino III confirmed that the Alaminos airport is part of his administration’s priority projects while he seemed unaware of the status of the Sual Seaport Development Project.

Both projects already broke ground in the early part of this year and have started some work with initial funding from the government.

The Alaminos Airport was proposed and is being pushed by Mayor Hernani Braganza, a known ally of the President.

On the other hand, the Sual seaport is an initiative of Governor Amado Espino Jr. who comes from another political party.

P-Noy made his first official visit to the province last Tuesday but did not meet up with Espino as the governor was not invited by Bani Mayor Marcelo Navarro Jr. to the inauguration of the Core Shelter Assistance Project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the town.

The inauguration was the President’s main activity during the visit.

Aquino, in a media conference after the inauguration, said the Alaminos airport is deemed an important project to help attract more visitors to the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP), considered as one of the main tourist infrastructures in the country.

“I don’t think it (airport) is one of the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects that we have ruled out,” Aquino told newsmen.

Land acquisition for the runway of the proposed airport started early this year using initial funds given by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)

Meanwhile, P-Noy said he will have to check if the Sual seaport is included in the book of PPP projects.

The Sual seaport also involves the DOTC as well as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the provincial government and the municipality of Sual.–LM

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