Republic ofthe Pilippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8289 _

Introduced by Representatives Rodante D. Marcoleta,
Rolando G. Andaya, Jr., Arthur C. Yap and Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to rename Clark Intemational Airport located in Clark Freeport Zone,
Angeles City, Province of Pampanga as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Clark Air Base was formerly the United States largest military installation overseas
and was one of the most important overseas bases during the Second World War. In 1991,
after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the ownership of the Clark Air Base was reverted by
the United States Government to the Philippine Government.

On March 13, 1992, Congress approved Republic Act No. 7227, also known as the
“Bases Conversion Development Act of 1992,” created the Bases Conversion and
Development Authority and converted the former Clark Military Reservation into the Clark
Special Economic Zone which now includes the Clark Civil Aviation Complex. At the center
of the Clark Civil Aviation Complex is the Clark International Airport, which is located at the
heart of Central Luzon, making it the most viable and convenient airport of choice for
travellers from North-Central Luzon and the northern Metro Manila area who want to avoid
the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

In 2001, the Board of Directors of the Clark Development Corporation, through its
Resolution No. 07-08, Series of 2001, changed the name of the Clark International Airport to
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. However, on October 14, 2011, the Board of
Directors of the Clark International Airport Corporation adopted a resolution reverting back
the name of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport to Clark International Airport.


Former President Diosdado P. Macapagal, the “poor boy from Lubao”, the ninth
President of the Philippines, was one of the greatest sons of the Province of Pampanga; to his
family, he was the father who had imbued all members of his household with the similar
values that have endeared him to the entire nation; to his friends and colleagues, he was the
inspiration to a life of quiet dignity, integrity and humility; to the nation that watched his
quiet ascent into the portals of the highest office of the land, former President Macapagal
was an illustrious man of the people, one who reached out, one whose only agendum was the
g00d of the nation; a leader who tenaciously upheld democracy, refusing to be swallowed by
the allures of power and authority.

Renaming the Clark International Airport as the Diosdado Macapagal Intemational
Airport is also in keeping with the revised guidelines of the National Historical Commission
of the Philippines on the naming and renaming of public structures which provides that the
proposed names for public structures must have historical and cultural significance and must
contribute to the positive development of national pride through the good example exhibited
by the name being used.

Reiterating how the Pampanguefios valued President Diosdado Macapagal’s
accomplishments and contributions to the country, such as land reform, free enterprise, social
welfare programs, a moral regeneration program to eradicate graft and corruption and
abolition of tenancy, among others, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga, on July 27,
2018, issued Resolution No. 5124, entitled “A Resolution Urging His Excellency President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte and both Houses of Congress to Issue a Presidential Proclamation and
Appropriate Legislation, Respectively, Reverting or Renaming the Clark International
Airport located at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport.”

Stressing the primacy of this airport in terms of aviation as well as in the international
air transportation community, it is but fitting and proper that it shall be named in honor of
former President Diosdado Macapagal, a Filipino with a sterling legacy and incomparable
distinction as a respected leader, champion of the poor, true statesman, and a nationalist of
unquestionable integrity.

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

/

RO} iDQ\G. ANDAYA, JR.

CARMELO “JON” B. LAZATIN IL ee C. YAP


wevaunesune

a

2

13

14

Republic ofthe Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Mails

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 8289

Introduced by Representatives Rodante D. Marcoleta,
Rolando G. Andaya, Jr., Arthur C. Yap and Carmelo “Jon” B. Lazatin II

AN ACT
RENAMING CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATED IN
ANGELES CITY, PROVINCE OF 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, Province of Pampanga is hereby renamed Diosdado Macapagal
International Airport.

SEC.2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,