Announcing the opening of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Phase 2A, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar posted the event on Facebook.
“Bukas na po ang NAIA Expressway Phase 2A! Katulad ng aming pinangako, sa unang minuto ng September 22!” he said, adding two photos of himself at the said expressway.
Supporters of former President Benigno Aquino III and former DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson wanted Villar to give credit to the previous administration instead of seemingly grabbing the credit all to himself, given the way he captioned his photos.
The project was indeed one of Aquino’s priority projects.
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In May 2016, an article and video on RTVM’s web page showed Aquino, Singson, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, San Miguel Corporation senior vice president and SMHC Infrastructure head Lorenzo Formoso, DMCI president Jorge Consunji and Parañaque and Pasay City local government officials conducting an inspection of the then unfinished expressway. It aimed to alleviate the traffic problems in going to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Complex and Manila International Airport.
According to the article, “NAIAx will benefit 80,000 travelers per day and is expected to reduce travel time from the Skyway to Terminals 1 and 2 from 34 minutes to 8 minutes.”
To prevent any sort of credit grabbing, Villar’s post was flooded by Aquino’s supporters. They made #SalamatPNoy and #ThankYouPNoy comments to give credit to the previous administration that started the project.
A certain Vener Altamira, whose comment has gained 1,115 likes as of posting, urged Villar to show appreciation to the previous DPWH admin, adding that emergency powers or the killings are not necessary in solving the ills of the country.
Rose Hayana Vitto thanked the previous administration and told Villar to start his own project so he could earn their gratitude.
Oliver Bagat Torres said Villar was merely making an announcement.
Rommel Pangan thanked both the previous admin and Villar for continuing what PNoy started.
Other netizens were more sarcastic towards Villar.
PNoy’s supporters could have misinterpreted what Villar was referring to as his “promise” because he earlier promised for the NAIAx to open on September 22 and it did. But just like what these supporters pointed out, Villar could have acknowledged the effort of the administration before him when he made the Facebook post.
PNoy’s supporters were proactive in making sure that the previous administration gets the credit it deserves for the projects that it started. Credit grabbing has been quite an issue between the supporters of both past and current administrations.
Sources: (rtvm.gov.ph, facebook.com, rappler.com)
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