| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REGEN

DATE:
Tie
Republic of the Philippines By.
Hose of Representative:
‘ity, Me i RECISTRATION UNIT
Quezon City, Metro Manila J py | .2.CIST TION NT

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 22¢4_

Introduced by Honorable Aurelio DongD. Gonzales, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to rename Clark International Airport located in Clark
Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga as DiosdadoMacapagal International
Airport.

The Clark International Airport forms part of the former Clark Air Base
operated by the United States Air Force until its closure in 1991. By virtue of
Republic Act No. 7227, otherwise known as the “Bases Conversion and
Development Act of 1992,” President Fidel V. Ramos converted Clark Air Base
into Clark Special Economic Zone and established the Clark International Airport
Corporation to manage the airfield facilities. Clark Air Base was so named in
honor of Major Harold M. Clark of the U.S. Army Signal Corps who died in a
seaplane crash in the Panama Canal in 1919.

Resolution No. 07-08,S. 2001, which was issued in July 2001 by the Clark
International Airport Corporation(CIAC) board, christened Clark International
Airport as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)in commemoration
of former President Diosdado Macapagal’s 91" birthday. In 2003, President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo officially referred to DMIA as such through Executive Order
No. 193, S. 2003.


President Diosdado Macapagal was the ninth President of the Republic of
the Philippines, born in Lubao, Pampanga and the first Kapampangan president.
He was revered as a statesman, champion of the poor, an intellectual, nationalist
and dedicated public servant. His legacy includes land reform, free enterprise,
social welfare programs, a moral regeneration program to eradicate graft and
corruption and abolition of tenancy. He survived poverty, hunger and hardship and
persevered to earn the degrees of Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Economics. He
also topped the Bar Examinations in 1936.

In 2011, the CIAC Board during its 10" Special Board Meeting approved a
resolution restoring DMIA’s former name, Clark International Airport. Equipped
with modern amenities, it now functions as one of the biggest aviation complexes
in Asia. It caters to passengers from the provinces of Northern and Central Luzon.

Considering the vital role of this airport in aviation and in the international
air transportation community, it is only fitting that it shall be named after a Filipino
of unquestionable integrity with a sterling legacy and incomparable honesty. This
bill proposes to rename Clark International Airport as Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport in honor of former President Diosdado Macapagal, one of the
most respected Filipino leaders.

Moreover, there is insistent public demand, particularly from the private and
business sectors outside of Metro Manila, for the improvement and development of
the Clark International Airport, which has CRK as its international code.
Presently, CRK caters only to a handful of airlines such as Philippines Airlines,
Cebu Pacific, Dragon Air, Emirates and Qatar Airways to name a few. Claims
from these sectors would want CRK to be as functional as the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, catering to all commercial airlines. ‘The ultimate goal is the
decongestion of air and street traffic in Metro Manila.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

A 'O BONGD. GONZALES, JR.


Covanawnae

Republic of the Philippines
Hose of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session
cele
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Aurelio DongD. Gonzales, Jr.

AN ACT
RENAMING CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATED IN
ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA AS DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION. 1. The Clark International Airport located in Angeles City,
Pampanga is hereby renamed Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

SEC.2. TI

is Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

ky