Should controversial PEA road get a new name?

Fearing that former President Diosdado Macapagal may be turning in his grave, some quarters have suggested that a controversial road named after him be renamed Central Boulevard.

The President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue (PDMA), whose construction has been tainted with alleged irregularities and accusations of overpricing, is a five-kilometer stretch of road in the Manila Bay reclamation area that was named after President Arroyo’s father.

"She (Mrs. Arroyo) has not commented on that (renaming) but we have heard some suggestions to change that name (PDMA)," said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye yesterday on the occasion of the 92nd birth anniversary of Macapagal, also known as "the poor boy from Lubao (Pampanga)."

Simple commemorative ceremonies were held at the former president’s graveside at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City by his former supporters to mark the occasion.

Speaking over government-run Radyo ng Bayan, Bunye said the Palace felt sad the birthday of Macapagal was somehow tainted with the latest controversy involving the Public Estates Authority (PEA), whose board members were forced to go on leave amid accusations of extortion and horse-trading in the construction of the PDMA.

"It is really very saddening that his name was dragged into this. Our former president did not even have anything to do with this and even our own President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also (has nothing to do with it)," Bunye said.

"And this incident is now being investigated by our government," he pointed out.

Bunye recalled with pride that Macapagal was known for his outstanding leadership of the country when the government during his watch served the needs of the Filipino people, especially the poor.

"The Philippines at that time was considered second only to Japan in terms of economic development," Bunye said referring to the Macapagal administration from 1961 to 1965.

"And our former President Macapagal showed that even ordinary citizens, a poor boy of Lubao, Pampanga, through his perseverance, can become a President of the Philippines," he said.

In his daily press briefing at Malacañang yesterday, Bunye strongly took exception to the reported remarks by some congressmen that the Palace approves with dispatch any road projects named after Mrs. Arroyo’s father.

"We would not wish to tangle with the honorable members of Congress," Bunye said.

Mrs. Arroyo, it would be recalled, earlier this year ceremonially opened to vehicular traffic the controversial road mean to ease traffic along Roxas Boulevard, especially to declog routes leading to the international airport.