CDC president Noel Manankil said in a forum held by the Capampangans in Media, Inc. that contractors are rushing the construction of at least 21 new villas in this freeport, on top of two presidential villas being rushed by Filinvest atthe Mimosa tourism estate.
“A total of 21 villas are being finished on a 9.5-hectare area near the Fontana leisure park. Eight existing villas at Fontana will also be reserved for the ASEAN affair,” he said.
The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) had bid out the development of the 9.5-hectare area and the construction of the two-storey villas there at the cost of about P500 million. The new villas in Mimosa, however, are being funded by Filinvest.
CDC board chairman Jose de Jesus said most of the villas are using modular components, not traditional materials, and would therefore be completed over a shorter period.
The CDC has also allocated another P100 million for the widening of major roads in time for the ASEAN gathering.
Earlier, Ronnie Tiotuico, director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Luzon, said at least 14 heads of states would attend the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN here.
Tiotuico said that aside from the heads of the 10 members of the ASEAN, US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimor Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and South Korean Acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-Ahn are also expected to stay here for two days.
“We expect some 4,000 people for that event,” he said, adding he was not sure whether Chinese President Xi Jinping would also attend the anniversary. He noted that hotels within this freeport can accommodate as many as 5,000 people, but he noted that some guests could be billeted at Subic Freeport which is a 45-minute drive from Clark via the Subic- Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
