CLARK FREEPORT – Former Dumaguete City mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo formally took over yesterday as president and chief executive officer of the state-owned Clark Development Corp. (CDC) which runs this freeport.
He replaced Benigno Ricafort who bequeathed to him a freeport hosting some P77 billion worth of investments of foreign and domestic firms whose exports, as of the latest report, has already reached US$1.34 billion. Ricafort started as CDC board member in 1993 until ex-Pres. Arroyo appointed him president in 2008.
At the same time, Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva also assumed post as CDC chairman, replacing Rizalino Navarro.
Ricafort reported that Clark now employs about 60,000 folk, a far cry from the average of 24,000 Filipinos employed by the Americans before they left this former US Air Force base.
“The CDC has also remitted around P260 million worth of dividends to the national government and had advanced P1 billion to Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) in the form of cash advances and loans from Deutsche Bank for the acquisition of the radar equipment,” he noted.
He said “these economic figures are to be boosted amid positive outlook of top performing manufacturing firms such as Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corporation, a Korean firm that is investing $2 billion and would employ about 3,000 workers and another semi-conductor giant Texas Instruments (TI), entering its phase 2 operations.”
“TI’s investment is a staggering $1.5 billion, with annual exports of $3 billion and an employment of 3,000. In addition, the $600-million expansion project of Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. is also expected to add another 3,000 employees by 2013,” he noted.
Ricafort also reported that Donggwang Clark Corporation (DCC) is investing on a golf and leisure project worth $150 million, and would employ some 2,000 workers. “DCC’s other project is a 10-storey building, which will be finished by October 2011, with an investment of $60 million and employment of 500,” he added.
Remollo, a member of the Liberal Party, had been mayor of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental from 1998 to 2001.
In an interview with Punto, he would keep the current vice presidents of the CDC, but that they would be under probation for six months to on year. Those proven efficient and dedicated to their work would be retained, he added.
Remollo resigned recently from being senior vice president and legal counsel of Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. in Legaspi Village in Makati City in preparation for his assumption of the CDC post.
He said his wife Cristine, who is vice president for legal affairs of the government-run Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corp. (PDIC), also resigned as a matter of “delicadeza” to give way to his new position in the CDC.
He also disclosed he is eyeing enough area at Clark for the construction of “a new Malacañang”, as well as buildings to accommodate national government offices.
He did not say, however, whether such a move was initiated by Pres. Aquino, although it can be recalled that several other politicians who had aspired to be president had openly vowed to move the country’s capital to this freeport.
Transferring the seat of government to Clark was first broached by former Cebu governor Lito Osmena during his presidential bid in the 1992 elections, although he ended up being vice presidential bet of former Pres. Ramos.
At the same time, Remollo also said that his administration would be zeroing in on developing Clark as a major tourism destination. “Tourism here could be developed to the maximum also by hosting sports activities as well as promoting medical tourism,” he said.
“We should have a really attractive theme park here,” he added.
Remollo said he would also push for the renegotiation of the use of some 300 hectares of land by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The 300-hectare area, dubbed as Air Force City, was allocated to the 600th air base wing under an agreement between the BCDA and the Department of National Defense and hosts other air force units.
Remollo said he would at least want tourism-oriented areas within the air force territory to be managed by the CDC. The areas include a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an “officers’ club” building with conference rooms, a hotel, and a football field.
These areas have been noted to be underutilized and deteriorating under the air force management.
He replaced Benigno Ricafort who bequeathed to him a freeport hosting some P77 billion worth of investments of foreign and domestic firms whose exports, as of the latest report, has already reached US$1.34 billion. Ricafort started as CDC board member in 1993 until ex-Pres. Arroyo appointed him president in 2008.
At the same time, Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva also assumed post as CDC chairman, replacing Rizalino Navarro.
Ricafort reported that Clark now employs about 60,000 folk, a far cry from the average of 24,000 Filipinos employed by the Americans before they left this former US Air Force base.
“The CDC has also remitted around P260 million worth of dividends to the national government and had advanced P1 billion to Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) in the form of cash advances and loans from Deutsche Bank for the acquisition of the radar equipment,” he noted.
He said “these economic figures are to be boosted amid positive outlook of top performing manufacturing firms such as Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corporation, a Korean firm that is investing $2 billion and would employ about 3,000 workers and another semi-conductor giant Texas Instruments (TI), entering its phase 2 operations.”
“TI’s investment is a staggering $1.5 billion, with annual exports of $3 billion and an employment of 3,000. In addition, the $600-million expansion project of Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. is also expected to add another 3,000 employees by 2013,” he noted.
Ricafort also reported that Donggwang Clark Corporation (DCC) is investing on a golf and leisure project worth $150 million, and would employ some 2,000 workers. “DCC’s other project is a 10-storey building, which will be finished by October 2011, with an investment of $60 million and employment of 500,” he added.
Remollo, a member of the Liberal Party, had been mayor of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental from 1998 to 2001.
In an interview with Punto, he would keep the current vice presidents of the CDC, but that they would be under probation for six months to on year. Those proven efficient and dedicated to their work would be retained, he added.
Remollo resigned recently from being senior vice president and legal counsel of Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. in Legaspi Village in Makati City in preparation for his assumption of the CDC post.
He said his wife Cristine, who is vice president for legal affairs of the government-run Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corp. (PDIC), also resigned as a matter of “delicadeza” to give way to his new position in the CDC.
He also disclosed he is eyeing enough area at Clark for the construction of “a new Malacañang”, as well as buildings to accommodate national government offices.
He did not say, however, whether such a move was initiated by Pres. Aquino, although it can be recalled that several other politicians who had aspired to be president had openly vowed to move the country’s capital to this freeport.
Transferring the seat of government to Clark was first broached by former Cebu governor Lito Osmena during his presidential bid in the 1992 elections, although he ended up being vice presidential bet of former Pres. Ramos.
At the same time, Remollo also said that his administration would be zeroing in on developing Clark as a major tourism destination. “Tourism here could be developed to the maximum also by hosting sports activities as well as promoting medical tourism,” he said.
“We should have a really attractive theme park here,” he added.
Remollo said he would also push for the renegotiation of the use of some 300 hectares of land by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The 300-hectare area, dubbed as Air Force City, was allocated to the 600th air base wing under an agreement between the BCDA and the Department of National Defense and hosts other air force units.
Remollo said he would at least want tourism-oriented areas within the air force territory to be managed by the CDC. The areas include a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an “officers’ club” building with conference rooms, a hotel, and a football field.
These areas have been noted to be underutilized and deteriorating under the air force management.
