CLARK FREEPORT – The move of President Duterte to reclassify part of this freeport as “International Center of Commerce and Leisure” was met with enthusiasm by stakeholders here.
Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president-CEO Jaime Melo said the president’s executive order is “a marching order in the right direction and will surely be a boon to regional development especially in the greater Clark area and central and northern Luzon.
He said CIAC will “now focus its efforts in aggressively expanding aviation-related logistics businesses and other industrial and commercial ventures inside Clark towards making it a globally competitive industrial and commercial hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Melo also said “this development will also further boost economic activities in time for the completion of Clark’s new passenger terminal building next year.”
Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president- CEO Noel F. Manankil said in a statement on Tuesday: “We welcome this development and support it with enthusiasm as it is in conformity to the new blueprint done by urban planners from Palafox and associates.”
He also said “Clark has seen a continuing development through the years. There is a new Master Plan that’s been crafted last year.”
Manankil explained that Clark’s “evolution lies not only in its local managers but also in the stakeholders and think tanks on the national level.”
Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) president Frankie Villanueva said: “Executive Order 81 series of 2019 is consistent with and empowers the new master plan developed by CDC in consultation with stakeholders. It will help in the realization of the vision for Clark to become a premier global aerotropolis.”
Villanueva also lauded the Duterte administration “for this initiative.”
President Duterte has reclassified the Clark Industrial Estate 5 (IE5) as an International Center of Commerce, Industry and Leisure.
Executive Order 81 signed last June 4 but released by the Malacañang only on Monday, authorizes the CIAC to enter into business deals covering the 290-hectare area for a broad range of commercial, industrial, leisure and recreation- related activities.
“The IE5 area measuring approximately 290 hectares, is hereby reclassified as an international center for commerce, aviation, logistics, industry, leisure, and recreation, without prejudice to any rights and interests under existing contracts, leases and business arrangements covering areas within the IE5, which have been lawfully entered into by the CIAC prior to the effectivity of this Order,” a portion of the EO stated.
Duterte said the reclassification of the area is “vital to the development of the entire Clark area as a globally competitive international commercial center in the Asia-Pacific region.”
