ANGELES CITY—The Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) said here that it now doubts the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) made by the University of the Philippines’s National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS).
The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) earlier commissioned the UP-NCTS to make a study on the projected traffic congestion at the main gate of the Clark free port as a condition for the establishment of the Capilion Corp. Pte. Ltd. project at the site.
But on Thursday the CDC admitted that the TIA is still undergoing revisions by three offices and begged for understanding.
“Please understand that there are still revisions that go through three offices [CDC, UP-NCTS, Capilion]. We ask for your understanding,” said a text message from CDC Communications Manager Noel Tulabut when asked on the status of the TIA.
The PGKM has expressed impatience in the long-delayed presentation of the TIA, saying it has been two months since CDC officials promised to present the study.
A month ago Liberal Party Rep. Joseller Guiao of Pampanga vowed to call a summit “in two weeks’ time” to resolve the Capilion project located at the main gate of the Clark free port.
In a later text message, however, Guiao said he is still in Bahrain and will set the meeting as soon as he gets back on October 5.
“I’m still in Bahrain. As soon as I get back on Monday, I will arrange things,” he said.
PGKM Chairman Ruperto Cruz expressed anger and disappointment upon learning that the TIA is undergoing revisions.
“Is the CDC doctoring the UP traffic study to suit Capilion’s needs?” he asked. “Why still go through a study if CDC and Capilion have the power to revise the findings?”
Cruz demanded that the CDC should immediately present to the public the traffic study made by the UP-NCTS “as is” otherwise the study will “lose its credibility.”
But Cruz said there are solutions for all this to end and among them are the immediate relocation of the Capilion project from the main gate to somewhere inside the Clark free port or the construction of skyways linking the Clark main gate to the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
“But the CDC and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority should be ready to pay for right-of-way,” Cruz said.
He said the delay in the presentation of the traffic study to the public is tantamount to “cheating” and even “deceit.”
Cruz noted that even before the traffic study is finished, the CDC has allowed excavation at the 3-hectare site at the Clark main gate. “Now, even the supposed Capilion summit is delayed. Pinapaikutan tayo dito [We are being given the round-around],” Cruz lamented.