Cayetano backs establishment of Pangasinan airport
THE clamor in Pangasinan to have its own international or domestic airport received another boost from former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
“The biggest province in the North should have an airport of its own,” Cayetano said, Taguig City First District representative.
He said he often wondered when he travels to the province why there is not a single airport in Pangasinan when it is the biggest province up north.
Last month, Transportation Sec. Arturo Tugade assured the provincial government that he will look into the submitted plans and facilitate the start of the construction.
Cayetano was in San Carlos City Tuesday morning to join a listening tour with some rice farmers in Barangay Mamarlao and where he distributed P10,000 ‘ayuda’ to 20 farmers, assisted by Vice Mayor Joseres “Bogs” Resuello.
He said the distribution of the 10K ayuda is aimed at boosting local economy across the country that has been badly hit by the pandemic.
He reiterated the same message in Dagupan City in the afternoon to introduce the “Alan Sari-Sari Store Community program” to 100 local store owners that gathered at the West Central Elementary School covered court.
He told newsmen in Dagupan City: “If you remember, I said a few months ago that now the presidentiables are starting to talk about 2022, I am encouraging and challenging them to join in the development of a five-year economic plan because things have become repetitive. I noticed, election after election, people are proposing the same thing. Why? Because there is no plan.”
Cayetano stressed that while a number of government officials may come forward with appealing platforms, it is the institutions that are mandated to plan for the country.
“My point is, we underestimate planning. We get excited when someone comes with an appealing platform. But remember, the politicians, even if he wins, he’s not the institution. The institutions have to do the planning: agriculture, education, sports, health, etc. and it should be in a five-year plan so we do not have to guess,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said he is prepared to join a discussion of the five-year economic plan with anyone willing to cooperate in its development.
In previous statements, Cayetano said the government should have a “1-2-3 punch” strategy, including the Bayanihan 3 with P10K ‘ayuda’, the five-year economic plan and a 2022 budget that is “against COVID-19.”
He said the P10K ‘ayuda’ should not be a one-time event and should be included in a five-year development plan as an annual program for at least three years.
Cayetano was joined in Pangasinan by Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano, Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia and Rep. De Venecia’s mother, Gina. (Leonardo Micua/Butch Uka)
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