CLARK FREEPORT – “Our goal for Clark is to make it a logistics hub in Southeast Asia.”
Thus, said Clark International Airport Corp. president-CEO Arrey A. Perez, citing seven flagship projects eyed to further develop Clark as the premiere global civil aviation logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
At the Balitaan at Talakayan forum of the Central Luzon Media Association-Pampanga Chapter held Monday at the CIAC corporate offices here, Perez named the seven projects as: New CRK Direct Access Link, National Food Terminal, Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation Program, Entertainment and Events Hub, Expansion and Upgrading of Road Networks and Utilities, Detailed Site Development Plan of 2nd Runway, and New CIAC Headquarters.
“These seven will further bring on the A-Game for the development of the Clark Civil Aviation Complex,” said Perez, noting that the complex encompassing 2,347 hectares is the biggest aviation-related development in the Philippines.
He clarified that of the seven flagship projects, top priority has been focused on three.
National Food Terminal. To be sited in some 64 hectares of farm land near the Clark International Airport, the NFT is designed “to emerge as the Philippines’ premium wholesale market and distribution hub for high-value and top-quality food products.”
The “cutting-edge facility” shall provide a range of services from research and quality control, warehousing, and food processing to marketing and trading for both domestic and international markets.
At a projected cost of $152 million, the NFT construction has a 2024-2026 timeline. The mode of implementation is joint venture private partnership.
Clark Entertainment and Event Hub. Sitting on 30 hectares, CEEH will comprise a 150,000-square meter convention center, an internationally-accredited indoor sports arena, an airport mall, and a multi-modal hub with projected cost of $317 million and a 2024-2027 construction timeline via public-private partnership.
Urban Renewal Program. An aviation park on 8.2 hectares directly across the CRK to promote the “live, work, and play” concept of CIAC and the Dolores Riverpark, a sustainable development of 9.6 hectares of the eponymous creek into a scenic promenade with viewing decks, sitting areas, and rainwater and wastewater recycling management systems. With a projected cost of $31 million and a 2024-2028 timeline, implementation is by joint venture private partnership.
Noting the “enormous funding” required to get the flagship projects going, Perez is all bullishness in citing the confidence in the “full development of the potentials of Clark” of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his administration in “making it happen.” Punto News Team
