Speakout: No politics in interchange

SunStar

I ALWAYS regard your newspaper as one reliable information medium connecting people and the government. In the same vein, I never doubted the dedication and impartiality of your people in reporting or writing issues that affect the life of Juan dela Cruz. Rest assured, I am with you in advocating for the truth and transparency.

Having assured this, I write in reference to your editorial entitled "The Politics of Interchange" which appeared on your September 19, 2007 issue, the contents of which needed to be clarified in the spirit of impartiality and fairness.

The title of the editorial piece itself, "The Politics of Interchange," presented a danger of misleading your intelligent readers. I would assure you that politics was, is, and never present in this project. You are correct in noting disagreements among stakeholders regarding the interchange project, but let me assure the public that we disagree without being disagreeable. This is democracy at work.

The fact is we are proposing for the establishment of two interchanges, one in Angeles City and one in Porac, because of the twin advantages and benefits they would bring to both the government and the people. One, it would save the government millions of funds since the stand-by P400 million budget coming from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) would be enough because the estimate for one interchange is only a little above than P200 million. For the proposed interchange in Porac, we firmly believe that once completed, the infrastructure will boost the re-development of the town, including the nearby municipalities of Floridablanca and Sta. Rita.

The same prospective is expected in Angeles. In the first place, Angeles City produces more than half of Pampanga's exports. And if the port of Subic was to be tapped as the new exit point for these export commodities, there will be a high demand for access to SCTEx from the city and San Fernando and vice versa.

The next issue that I would like to clarify borders on personal and government service areas. In your editorial, you mentioned, to the effect, that I own 30 hectares near Barangay Margot, Angeles City. This false and unfounded allegation, either intentional or just a result of unverified loose talk, predicated on the fact that I favor the establishment of the interchange in the city.

Let me categorically state that I have no property, neither my immediate family, in the area mentioned. Further, I have no personal interest, nor my family, whatsoever in the project. Our benefit from the interchanges will be that of a citizen of the country living in the province of Pampanga, which is same and equal with the benefit of other citizens of this country and residents of the province of Pampanga.

With this letter, I hope I made myself clear and the doubt that was cast on the integrity of my personality as a public servant will be erased. This would only happen, I believe if you will find a little space for this letter and let the people be enlightened.

(Sgd) SECRETARY EDGARDO D. PAMINTUAN
Chairman
Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council
Development Champion, Luzon Urban Beltway