CLARK FREEPORT – “Manila is rotten. A new metropolis should rise in Clark and Pampanga for the benefit of Central Luzon.”
Thus said Rufo Colayco, former president and CEO of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in a recent exclusive interview with Punto Central Luzon here.
This, even as he called on the Freeport officials to “dream bigger” and attract big-time investments that will draw “massive activities” and jobs for the people in Pampanga and nearby provinces.
Colayco said he had initiated the construction of the 93.7 kilometer-long Subic-Clark-Tarlac-expressway (SCTEx) during his stint as CDC president and CEO at the time of former President Joseph Estrada in 1998.
He was also appointed BCDA chairman and CEO in 2002 at the term of then President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Colayco said the SCTEx and other planned highways, including the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) connecting the cities of Tarlac and San Jose in Nueva Ejica, had been included in the master plan presented to Estrada and Arroyo to develop the “next metropolis” anchored on Clark and Subic Freeports.
Colayco said the highways were designed to complement and synergize the development in both Clark and Subic and all provinces in Central Luzon, including Aurora which has seaports.
Colayco, board member of the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC) in Capas, Tarlac, said Estrada told him after presenting the SCTEx’s plan: “It’s a good idea, go for it and just convince the NEDA.”
He later worked out for the approval of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Colayco stressed that Clark and Subic should not compete with each other as they should focus on their strengths to complement development in both Freeports.
Colayco said that Clark officials should be focused on turning the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) into “a real international airport.” Subic, he added, should be focused on developing its seaport.
BIGGER DREAMS
Colayco said he had suggested to then President Arroyo to devote the whole of some 4,400-hectares of the Clark Freeport for the DMIA and an aviation and cargo logistics hub.
He added that some 1,000-hectare had been set aside for tourism and leisure investments at par with Sentosa Island in Singapore and Las Vegas in Nevada, USA.
The then planned investments to be offered to international firms “will be all connected to the availability of a well-prepared Clark airport and Subic ports,” he added.
“Maybe GMA (Arroyo) was so busy then she failed to listen to my suggestion at Clark. And Maybe President Aquino is too busy now, he may not be able to do the same (fully develop Clark airport and its related investments),” said Colayco.
But he stressed that the Filipinos should take advantage of “corrupt-less” president in Aquino to push for development and progress in the country, notably in Region III. Aquino is from Tarlac.
Colayco, however, pointed out that “there should also be work and not just removing corruption in government.”
He said CDC, Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) and BCDA officials should set aside personal interest and politics to “truly synergize” the development in Clark and Subic and the Central Luzon provinces-Pampanga, Tarlac, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Bulacan.
‘Why develop further Poro Point (Freeport in La Union) or say, John Hay in Baguio City? Ano ang panama niyang mga yan (to Central Luzon) may airport at sea port tayo na maganda at gawa na,” said Colayco.
CDC President and CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo earlier wrote to Aquino, asking him to allow him control of the entire Freeport, including the some 2,300-hectare controlled by the CIAC headed by Victor Jose Luciano.
Some 2,100 is allotted to the CDC, a subsidiary of the BCDA.
Colayco said “we should live to it that Clark is divided into two but don’t ever touch or remove a portion of the area” allotted for the development of the Clark airport, which now averages 80 international and local flights per week.
Colayco said “synergy is just on news but not on real action.” He said the development at Clark and Subic should spill over to neighboring communities “but that’s not what’s happening right now.”
Colayco said the Clark officials “should dream bigger” and attract big-time investments that will draw “massive activities” and jobs for the people in Pampanga and nearby provinces.
There are at least 507 locators at Clark generating some 61,000 jobs.
He added that the “real synergy” is allowing areas outside of Clark to attract new businesses complementing the development at the Freeport.
GOOD GUYS
Colayco said Luciano and Remollo “are good guys” but they should “have bigger dreams.”
Colayco said the sports tourism pushed by Remollo “is good” but that’s not what Clark “really needs” to fully develop.
“I am not belittling the sports tourism of Remollo. But will it make a real huge impact and attract massive developments?” said Colayco.
Colayco said Remollo and Luciano should come up with marketing and investments plans that will attract or be interesting to prominent companies in the country and abroad.
IDEAL PLACE
Colayco said Pampanga “is ideal area” for the metropolis due to its location and “the province is rich in agriculture and fish products.” It shares its borders with Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Bataan.
Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda welcomed the suggestion of Colayco, adding that the provincial government is fully supportive of the projects to boost investments at Clark.
Pineda, based on the report of agriculture consultant Roy Imperial, said “lands in Pampanga are ideal for sugar, rice and corn plants and vegetables which are in-demand in the market.”
Pineda said some of these areas are in Porac and Floridablanca and are along the SCTEx.
She added that Remollo had recently allowed her to re-develop a market in Clark used earlier by Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo showcasing food and products of Pampanga farmers, fishermen and traders.
Pineda pointed out that her province had been the top producer of Tilapia in the country in the past few years.
