That is the concept design of the Clark International Airport (CIA) low-cost carrier passenger terminal building (LCC-PTB) by Aeroports de Paris (ADP)) which has “softened somewhat” the hard line stand of the advocacy group Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM) vis-à-vis the development of the CIA.
Finding, belatedly, the ADP perspective of the CIA terminal, PGKM Chairman Rupwrto Cruz said “at least, we have now a clear vision of what is to come at Clark.”
The PGKM has maintained what it called “guarded pessimism” toward all announcements of developments at the CIA, especially so with its passenger terminal.
“To see is to believe,” PGKM said of the reported scheduled bidding of the LCC terminal next month, burned out by previous announcements of biddings of the terminal dating back to the presidency of Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo which “all amounted to nothing.”
Among the reported bids that failed to materialize were the P3-billion joint venture offered by the Manila International Airport Authority, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and the Bureau of Immigration; the $1.2-billion proposal from ALMAL Investments Co. of Kuwait;
the $150-million offer of Malaysia’s Bristeel Overseas Ventures, Inc.; and the proposal of the Philco Aero Inc. of Filipino business moguls Ramon Ang and Manny V. Pangilinan.
Initial P1.2-B
Late last month, Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President- CEO Atty. Emigdio “Dino” Tanjuatco III announced thatthe National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – Investment Coordination Committee approved the P1.2-billion initial funding from the Department of Transportation and Communications for the LCC passenger terminal building.
Earlier, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said “the new LCC-PTB is designed to accommodate at least 15 million passengers annually at the price of P7.2 billion.”
He added: “We tapped the services of Aeroports de Paris for the feasibility study not only of the terminal but also other facilities at the aviation complex.”
For his part, Tanjuatco said: “The fact that this project is up for bidding is proof that government is serious in developing the Clark airport.”
Show proof
Amid all the DOTC and CIAC pronouncements, the PGKM asked that “some proofs, like design perspectives be shown to at least give the public an idea of what is to become of the Clark airport.”
The Aeroport de Paris designs and concepts for the CIA published in the CIAC newsletter served as response to the PGKM challenge.
“We have to give it to President Tanjuatco. At least, he shows sensitivity to our sentiments as regards the development of Clark,” Cruz said. “We can only hope the terminal will truly be realized in his time.”
