CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Clark International Airport Corporation President and CEO Alex Cauguiran announced that through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build Build Build Infrastructure Program, the premier airport north of Metro Manila is ready for full utilization and development.
Speaking before the members of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) during the business organization’s 56th General Membership held Thursday, May 11, Cauguiran highlighted that the major transportation hub is gearing up for expansion.
“We are going to build a new terminal building, one kilometer away from the current terminal we have now. This new structure, upon full completion of the first phase, can accommodate up to eight million passengers. This will have a dual-airport system with Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” he said.
It can be noted that the current terminal capacity of Clark International Airport (CRK) is 4.2 million passengers per annum.
In the second phase of the expansion, Cauguiran noted that the airport can accommodate up to 16 million passengers and for the third and last phase, can be used by over 46 million passengers.
He expressed confidence and optimism that the proposed projects will become a reality under the Duterte administration.
“It will happen in five years, because our government is committed,” he said, pointing out to the proposed terminal building under the first phase of the project.
Furthermore, Cauguiran shared that more domestic and international flights are expected within the coming months.
CRK currently has a total of 94 domestic and 138 international flights per week.
“I am glad to announce that starting this May 15, CebGo will be launching new destinations—the Caticlan and Busuanga. While the Wakay Air will offer flights to Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya this May 17,” he said.
“Philippine Airlines will also offer flights to destinations like Bacolod, Cagayan De Oro, and Tagbilaran this coming June 22. China Easter, on the other hand, will introduce its Pudong, Shanghai China route this coming October,” he added.
Caugiran then concluded that the management has on-going flight negotiations with international carriers like Sea Air, Jet Star, Air Asia, and Philippine Airlines for several international destinations and route namely Beijing-Clark-Beijing; Shangha-Clark-Shanghai; Beijing-Clark-Koror; Shanghai-Clark-Puerto Princesa; Beijing-Clark-Caticlan; Japan; Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan, Thailand, and Los Angeles, USA.
Moreover, Bases and Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Executive Vice-President Aileen Zosa noted that “The government’s highest priority is the development of CRK.”
“We have been pioneering a lot of developments here in Clark but the airport’s expansion project is our topmost priority. First and foremost, because it will accelerate and sustain the growth of the entire Central Luzon and the whole country,” she noted.
The executive also stressed that the full utilization and development of CRK will benefit and complement the new Clark Green City project of the state-run firm.
The Clark Green City, one of the big-ticket projects under the Build Build Build Infrastructure Program, is poised to be the country’s first smart, green, and disaster-resilient city. It is designed to cater to government agencies, businesses, educational organizations, research institutions, agro industries and tourism.
The said 9,459-hectare master planned metropolis is strategically located 120 kilometers away from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway, a mere 20 kilometers away from the Clark International Airport, and 90 kilometers from the Subic Bay Freeport.
Zosa noted that feasibility studies for the project are still ongoing. She added that BCDA targets the completion of its first phase by the end of 2021.
For his part, PamCham Chairman Emeritus Levy Laus, vowed that the chamber will support the agency in its bid to spur economic growth and development in the countryside.
“Our advocacies are in line with the government. Together with the whole business community here in Pampanga, we will step forward, and help in any way we can, to propel the economic engine of Pampanga and of the whole Central Luzon,” he said.
