Dapat bang idisenyo muli ang kasalukuyang PHP500 bill na nagtataglay ng mga larawan nina dating senador Benigno Aquino, Jr. at dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino?
Ang puntirya ng House Resolution 2566 ni Duterte Youth Representative Ducielle Marie Cardema na may petsang May 2, 2022, ay alisin ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ang "divisive Ninoy Aquino image" at palitan ng “more unifying nationalistic figure.”
Inilabas sa media ang kopya ng resolusyon noong May 4.
Batay sa resolusyon, sinabi ni Cardema na, "The image of anti-Marcos leader, Ninoy Aquino, has been placed in the 500-peso bill and caused so much divisiveness in the Philippine populace because more than half support the Philippine leader whom Ninoy Aquino fought with politically."
Binanggit din niya ang ginawang pagpapalit ng BSP ng disenyo ng PHP1,000 bill. "The BSP recently removed real wartime heroes like General Vicente Lim, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, and Girl Scout of the Philippines founder Josefa Llanes Escoda from our 1,000 peso bill even though they fought foreign invaders.
“They were replaced with a more nationalistic and a powerful image of the Philippine eagle.”
Dagdag pa niya, "What more for a personality like Ninoy Aquino who only fought politically against a fellow Filipino who is also revered by more than half of the Philippine population?"
Wala naman siyang ipinanukala kung anong “more unifying nationalistic figure” ang dapat ilagay sa PHP500 bill.
Ipinaliwanag naman ni Atty. Sarah Severina Curtis, ang deputy director ng BSP Banknotes and Securities Production Management Department, ang pagbabago sa disenyo ng PHP1,000 bill.
Ayon kay Curtis, itinatampok ng central bank ang ating mga national heroes at ang natural environment sa mga BSP-issued currency sa loob na ng ilang dekada.
“As with the heroes’ theme, the flora and fauna demonstrate our pride and distinction as Filipinos.
“It will remind our people even of the pressing challenges of changing climate and associated environmental and social risks of our nation’s commitment and action to ensure a sustainable future for everyone.”
PROPOSAL TO RENAME NAIA
Sinabi naman ni Cardema na ang kanyang naunang proposal na ibalik ang pangalan ng Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) sa Manila International Airport ay tanggap daw ng maraming Pilipino, kaya giit niya, katanggap-tanggap ding alisin ang "divisive image" sa PHP500 bill.
"Proof of the desire of many Filipinos to correct this political blunder is the public outcry to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Manila International Airport," ani Cardema.
Matatandaang isinumite ni Cardema ang House Bill 10822 na naglalayong gawin muling MIA ang pangalan ng NAIA para maging madali diumano para sa mga dayuhang turista na mahanap ang international gateway ng Pilipinas, at mabigyan ang mga Pilipino ng "sense of pride."
Ayon naman sa Malacañang, kailangan ng “Congressional action” para mapalitan ang pangalan ng NAIA.