Transcript of Ambush Interview with Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

Q: On issue of ads at airport terminals raised in DOTC budget hearing

SPFMD: Alam mo, mukhang EDSA na ang ating mga airport, puno ng advertisements. Sa akin ay dapat tingnan kung talagang kailangan natin iyan o kailangan natin ang mas malinis na terminals.

Pangalawa, sabi ko nga ay baka naman ay hindi ito bini-bid, ninenegotiate lamang. Kapag ninegotiate lamang ay hindi malalaman if this is the true value of the government asset we are getting. So ang hinihingi ko po ay rebyuhin itong polisiyang ito.

Pangatlo, yung mga nakatiwangwang na assets ng CAAP, eh ito ay mga valuable properties. Halimbawa na lang, yung Bacolod airport, this is 30 hectares of prime government property. Why is it not being developed? These are assets which can generate activity, and I assume pagtingin mo sa buong bansa ay may mga example na. Sa Iloilo, sa Cebu, yung mga dating airport ay talagang nagiging commercial areas and it generates economic income.

So, as a policy, we should look at these idle assets of the government and see what can be done in order to generate employment and economic activity.

Q: Usually po ba magkano ang magegenerate diyan?

SPFMD: I'm sure na malaking pera itong pinaguusapan, hundreds of millions, if not billions of peso. Billions of pesos sana. Dead government assets, which properly attended to, can benefit our economy.

Halimbawa itong Ayala Avenue, this used to be an airport, an airfield. So that's how valuable it is. That is why I pointed out the Bacolod airport which is 30 hectares, at P10 000 per sqm, how much is that? As an asset, it is not being utilized.

Q: On the rise of dengue cases

SPFMD: I am asking for a report from Secretary Garin, ano ba, what is happening, why is this not raised in the consciousness of the public? Ano ba ang ating ginagawa in order to remedy this situation?

Q: Ipapatawag pa ba sa Senado si Secretary Garin?

SPFMD: Hindi na. I am asking for a report.

Q: On Monday, announcement na po ng running mate ni Secretary Roxas, which is Congresswoman Leni Robredo na sir?

SPFMD: An offer as has been made to her, alam mo ang desisyon kung tatakbo o hindi ay personal sa bawat kandidato. Bigyan natin ng panahon si Congresswoman Leni na makipagusap sa kanyang mga anak.

Q: Yung line up ng mga senatorial candidates?

SPFMD: Sobra nga eh. Sumusobra eh, kaya amin pang pinaguusapan. Sa Lunes siguro ay magkakaroon na iyan.

Q: Kung hindi po papayag si Congresswoman Leni, sino po ang papalit?

SPFMD: Hindi ko alam.

Q: Yung informal na consent ni Congresswoman Leni, totoo po ba iyon?

SPFMD: Hindi ko alam. But what I have already stated is what the situation is.