CLARK FREEPORT – Citing the need to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City, UNA senatorial candidate Jack Enrile said he will push for the total development of the Clark International Airport (CIA) here as he expressed optimism that more foreign carriers would make the CIA a major aviation hub in the Philippines.
“Fully realizing the full potential of our airports like Clark and the international airport soon to open in Cagayan is a must to spur development of host communities and to increase our tourist arrivals,” Enrile said.
The Cagayan congressman gunning for one of 12 Senate seats in the May elections, issued the statement during a press conference at the Oxford Hotel here last Friday as President Aquino recently signed a law that removed discriminatory taxes on foreign carriers.
“The expected return of many foreign carriers augurs well for our many international airports which serve as hubs and spokes of our business and tourism program,” said Enrile.
The President recently signed Republic Act 10374 which removed the common carriers tax (CCT) and gross Philippine billings (GPB), which translated to a 5.5-percent tax on all revenues by foreign airlines for flights to and from Philippine airports.
“The savings to be realized from the removal of the CCT and GPB may result to even more competitive seat pricing on flights to and from the Philippines which should attract more business travelers and tourists,” said Enrile.
Enrile noted that leading international carriers like Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines, Etihad, Air France/KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airlines and Singapore Airlines, among others, are seen to increase their flights to the country.
“NAIA would not be able to serve the increase in flight frequencies, thus Clark which is just 80 kilometers from Manila via NLEX and SCTEX should be a viable hub for those airlines,” said Enrile.
At present, Clark hosts Philippines AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express, Jin Air, Dragon Air and Aseana. In October, Emirates is slated to start its daily Dubai Clark flights.
