IN THE thick of the coronavirus pandemic, more mirage than miracle do I make out of a recent announcement of an aerotropolis rising “soon” inside Clark. Call it unguarded skepticism.
“Just like its vision for CRK, LIPAD envisions to transform its project land to be a premier mixed-use township destination North of Manila – an aerotropolis that integrates logistics, general aviation, and tourism to work, lifestyle, and leisure with CRK as the center and key component of this development.” So was quoted, in a press release some days back, Bi Yong Chungunco, CEO of the Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., the consortium handling the operations and maintenance of the Clark International Airport.
To actualize that transformative vision, Chungunco said LIPAD plans “to leverage” on the combined commercial wealth experience of its consortium members as they are closely working with Filinvest Development Corp. — itself the main cog of LIPAD, and Robinsons Land Corp., corporate siblings of LIPAD partner JG Summit Holdings Inc.
Chungunco said the development of some 800 hectares within the aviation complex “which includes both airside and landside areas” is part of the 25-year concession agreement LIPAD signed with the government for the O&M of the CRK.
Aye, there’s the rub.
“Eight hundred hectares could only be for ‘aero’ or aviation component, the ‘polis’ part or township would demand much, much more,” somebody that looked like a former CEO of the Clark International Airport Corp. chuckled, nearly choking on his N95 mask in a chance meeting last week.
But ain’t the Clark civil aviation area comprising some 2,360 hectares?
Yes, he said, “under the jurisdiction of CIAC, outside the concession agreement.”
Turf war
Instant connection now to this latest news of turf war brewing at the CRK: CIAC asking the Department of Transportation for oversight functions over CRK, in response to LIPAD’s non-recognition of CIAC authority over the Clark Civil Aviation Complex as mandated by EO 716. (Read “Turf war brews at CRK” in this issue)
A matter of hectarage – the undeclared casus belli – right there is the arena of conflict that impacts directly on LIPAD’s aerotropolis vision for the CRK. Our friend Transportation Secretary Art Tugade will have his diplomatic skills tested here.
Then there is Ramon Ang’s mega airport in nearby Bulacan province that any Clark aerotropolis would have to contend with. At a clear disadvantage for the latter, sheer size a giveaway advantage to the former. Why, the very viability of CRK will be at issue once the touted New Manila International Airport comes into being.
So, am I raining down on LIPAD’s parade?
Far from these seeming gloom-mongering, I am all for the CRK. In all ways have been. Always will be. My writings will bear me out, dating back to the American occupation of Clark when we advocated for a dual use of the Clark airport – military and commercial.
It’s just that experience has shown that any talk of a Clark aerotropolis remained just that. Talk.
Chichos
There was in February 2013 the Clark Aviation Conference 2013 with the theme ”The Case for Asia’s Next Aerotropolis,” aimed to highlight “Clark’s compelling case as an aerotropolis, an idea in community planning where airports serve as the center for new cities growing around them.”
Declared then CIAC president-CEO Victor “Chichos” Luciano: ”The event will highlight CRK‘s critical role in easing air traffic congestion in Manila and driving economic expansion in Central Luzon. It will also identify infrastructure and policy developments at Clark Freeport Zone that are designed to attract airport-related businesses and investments.‘‘
Emphasizing: ”More importantly, the conference is a call for the full development of CRK as an aviation nerve center in light of the economic growth in Asia.”
The conference ended as it began. In verbiage.
Guiao
In May 2014, there was the 2nd Clark Aviation Conference dubbed “Clark: Reshaping Philippine Aviation – The Aerotropolis Concept.”
“…(A) compelling case to be an Aerotropolis, identifying the infrastructure and policy developments which will enhance Clark’s growth potential and economic impact.” So, it was hailed by its principal convenor, then Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao: “This is consistent not only with my own advocacy but with the clamor of various stakeholders in Pampanga and Region III to maximize both the advantages and resources of the Clark airport not only as a global aviation hub but as an economic driver of enormous potential for the province, region and the country.”
Note the operative words both fora shared which I highlighted – compelling case. As it turned out, no one was impelled even the slightest to walk the talk.
Alas, Guiao lost in the elections that followed, his aerotropolis advocacy dying unbirthed.
In June 2018, at the 1st Aeromart Summit at Quest Hotel, it was the turn of BCDA senior vice president Joshua Bingcang to bat for the “huge potential of Clark as Asia’s next aerotropolis” with the development of the CRK and the New Clark City going into full swing.And nothing more was heard of it.
Three tries at the bat. All three striking out. And theywere not even the originator of the aerotropolis concept at Clark.
EYA
That distinction goes to then CDC president-CEO Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles.
In a forum of the Society of Pampanga Columnists which I headed in 2002, EYA broached the idea of an aerotropolis for Clark which he defined as – if memory still serves right now – “an airport-driven growth and expansion of cities into globally-competitive urban centers.” He even gave a time frame of 25 years for its realization into something like Schiphol in the Netherlands or any of those in the United States.
I remember The Voice’s Ody Fabian, still much alive then of course, asking EYA what would distinguish the Clark aerotropolis from those in other countries.
“It will have the biggest sundial in the world so that the time in Clark could be seen even from up in the skies,”was EYA’s ready reply.
Persistent Ody asked: “So how would that sundial show time to evening flights?”
EYA’s instant answer: “We will put spotlights all around it.”
If only for that, Ody could have laughed his way to his grave.
And I remain a skeptic.
