Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Yap answered critics who questioned the timing of the filing of House Bill 7031, noting the COVID-19 pandemic the country is facing.
“Iyong COVID-19, di po natin pinababayaan. Pero hindi puwedeng tumigil ang mundo at lahat tayo tutok lahat sa COVID-19. Lahat po ng isyu ng ating bayan ay natutugunan ng Kongreso,” said Yap, one of the authors of the measure.
Among those who slammed the proposal to rename NAIA amid the COVID-19 pandemic was Vice President Leni Robredo, who said it is "ill-timed," and Senator Francis Pangilinan, who said it should be the least of the government's concerns right now.
In defending the bill, Yap underscored the need to put the word "Philippines" or "Pilipinas" as this would promote the country to the international community.
"Marami po tayong bayani, pero ang point po ay mas maganda po na ilagay ang ating bansa sa ating airport dahil karamihan po ng turista doon po dumadaan," said Yap.
"Mapo-promote po ang ating bansa, pag-uusapan po tayo sa buong mundo kapag pinalitan natin ang pangalan ng airport, at iyong mga turista ay makikita po nila agad iyong Pilipinas [na salita] po," Yap added.
NAIA is named after the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., a staunch critic of the Marcos administration who was shot dead upon his return to the Philippines from the US on August 21, 1983.
Yap said renaming NAIA is not a show of disrespect to Ninoy Aquino.
"Hindi po natin sinasabi na hindi siya bayani, hindi natin sinasabi na wala siyang ginawa para sa Pilipinas. Iniisip lang natin ang mas nakararaming bayani, iyan po ang mga Pilipino," Yap said.
"Lahat po ng Pilipino ay bayani kaya kailangan nating ilagay ang salitang Pilipinas sa ating airport," he added.
Also an author of the controversial bill is Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Source:—KBK, GMA News
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