CLARK FREEPORT – President Aquino said the government has not abandoned plans to link the Clark International Airport (CIA) here to Metro Manila, but two issues have yet to be resolved.
In a press conference during the 67th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here the other day, the President said the government has yet to settle issues on the concessional loans amounting to “hundreds of millions of dollars” obtained by the previous administration for the mothballed North Railway project.
Aquino also said that the initial plan for the railway to link Clark to Caloocan City was not feasible, as it must extend to the country’s central business district in Makati or, at least, Ortigas in Pasig in the metropolis.
The President cited “due and demandable loans” from China initially obtained for the railway project and a still-ongoing “arbitration” involving a Chinese contractor as among the reasons why the project could not yet push through.
He noted that despite the huge loans obtained by the Arroyo government for the railway, “all we can see is one kilometer of columns (supposedly for the rail tracks) in Malolos.” The President said the government still wants the Clark to Metro Manila modern railways project realized, “but it has to be feasible.”
“Without it, it is not practical for foreign tourists or businessmen to (land) at Clark and take a two-hour trip to the business district,” he said. The railways plan between Clark and Metro Manila was first conceived during the administration of President Ramos who had issued an executive order declaring Clark as the “future site” of the country’s international gateway.
Aquino said, however, that despite the lack of such railway system, the “pocket open skies policy” of the government in airports, excluding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, would benefit Clark towards making it a “primary hub” for tourists.
He also noted that the government has continued to upgrade the CIA, citing the expansion of its passenger terminal building from 11,000 to 17,000 square meters and plans to build a new budget terminal which is expected to be approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) this August.
The President said, however, that the “biggest development” here would be the proposed Clark Green City of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) which developed former military lands into the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila.
He noted that the green city would occupy an area in Tarlac, larger that the main economic zone of Clark and would convert the area into a district similar to BCDA’s project in Taguig. This, even as the President bared ongoing litigation with investors both at Clark and Subic, who were awarded lands for investments, but which have remained idle.
“This will require long litigation over the contracts entered into,” he said. Most of the contracts were signed years ago when Clark was still reeling from the devastation wrought by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
The President also reiterated plans to move out units of the Philippine Air Force from some 300 hectares they are occupying here, to give way to more investors in this freeport.
