HERSTORY distinctly defined the Clark Freeport in 2024: 1,198 locators. 143,408 jobs. ₱77 billion in committed investments. $5.1 billion exports. And still rising.
Remittance of ₱1.8 billion in cash dividends to the national government (off the 2023 net income of ₱2.79 billion), the highest single-year remittance by the Clark Development Corp. since its inception in 1993.
With a 99% score in the 2022 Performance Evaluation Scorecard of the Governance Commission for GOCCs – the very year president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera assumed leadership – growth-driven corporate governance started emerging in full measure at the freeport.
No mean feat, indeed, for the first woman chief executive of CDC, coming as it did at the tail end of the socio-economic devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic to the nation.
Investment haven
No less than Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go cited CDC’s role in the Philippines achieving a ₱1.9 trillion investment increase in 2024. “We’d just like to point out that the big three agencies that contributed to the performance last year are the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and the Clark Development Corp.”
The “best location for highly urbanized or highly commercialized forms of investment.” So, the economic czar holds the Clark Freeport. So, indeed, in point of fact of expansion projects by existing locators and investments from new ones infused in 2024 and spread over phases in 2025.
Donggwang Clark Corp., a developer of tourism and leisure estates with additional ₱20 billion.
Taiwanese firm BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corp., a developer of integrated resort and water theme park facilities, with committed additional investment of ₱15 billion for the Midori Highlands, a new eco-friendly integrated township combining green spaces with urban living, including high-rise condominiums and a logistics center.
DeviceDesign Philippines Corp., a South Korean-based manufacturer specializing in wireless technology for the Internet of Things, investing ₱103 million.
Clark Water, a subsidiary of Manila Water Philippine Ventures and the sole water and wastewater service provider in the freeport, with ₱5.56 billion in capital expenditures for service improvement projects.
Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. with ₱3.5 billion to expand manufacturing operations set for completion by the end of 2025 with daily output capacity to reach 34,100 tires increasing to an annual output of 10 million tires by 2026.
Prodigy Maguire Concepts Inc., Nike’s exclusive partner in the Philippines for the factory store format, is constructing a ₱134.5-million Nike Factory Store on a 2,500-square-meter site along M.A. Roxas Highway.
Inari Amerton, Inc., one of Malaysia’s largest semiconductor firms, is expanding its operations with the construction of a new three-story, 2,000-square-meter building. Currently it employs some 2,000 individuals.
The Philippine Exporter Foundation Region III Inc. with ₱30.6 million in a lifestyle showroom and pasalubong center.
Habibia Corp. with ₱22 million. JBW Floor Center Inc. with ₱5.8 million. Otonari Food OPC with ₱40 million.
All these contributing to the diverse business landscape driving the growth of the freeport, seen to add some 6,000 individuals to its workforce, boosting employment opportunities in the region.
Nationstar Development Corp. has broken ground for the ₱126.95-million
Filipino-led boutique hotel, The Henry Hotel-Clark, and a commercial complex.
Construction of the Philippines’ first Wyndham Garden Hotel has also started. With a committed investment of ₱979 million, the facility will boast a 15-floor structure with 176 suite rooms, lifestyle amenities, and conference spaces tailored for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibits (MICE) events.
MICECon 2024
“Clark is first and foremost an investment destination, but after 30 years, it has transformed into something more,” said PCEO Devanadera, referencing the spirit of RA 7227 (Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992) that established the Clark Freeport as a “labor-intensive, export-oriented, aviation-driven manufacturing and investment haven” to spur the development of the areas contiguous to the former American military installation.
“We have all the reasons for people to come over. We have vast spaces, so what did we do? First, we grouped the industries according to their business nature, and we sold the idea of MICE to people not involved in MICE or tourism,” she said as MICECon 2024 opened in July. Unarguably, that event of the year positioned Clark as a premier global destination for MICE events.
At the JCI World Congress 2024 in Taiwan, Clark was chosen to host the JCI World Congress 2026 where delegates from over 100 countries are expected, creating opportunities for young leaders to connect globally.
The CDC is supporting Vespa Club of the Philippines in organizing the Pilipinas Vespa Days this November 2025 and in their bid to host the 2027 World Vespa Days in Clark.
Members of the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors gathered for their 14th Philippine National Conference in November 2024, at the Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort.
The Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines, Inc. convened for their 59th National Conference at Royce Hotel just this February.
In the MICE sector, Clark hosted 2,540 events with 364,000 attendees. Additionally, 138 major events attracted 444,000 attendees, highlighting Clark’s prominence as a key destination.
A problem of ease in mobility invariably arises with the heavy volume of people coming to Clark events. As part of the solution, CDC introduced last September the Clark Loop, the first cashless payment bus transportation system in both a freeport zone and Central Luzon, setting a new standard for regional connectivity and efficiency.
Venue for Arts, Culture Events
Post-pandemic, read: Devanadera time, the richness of local art and culture flourished at the Clark Freeport. The Clark Museum became a gallery of continuing art exhibitions by various Kapampangan artist groups in different genre.
Only this January, there was the “Kalilukan Culiat: Pisamban Maragul” featuring the works of 27 visual artists, including meticulously designed 3D models reimagining the Holy Rosary Parish Church.
Last December, “Paskung Kapampangan,” showcased 21 works by visual storyteller Gerald Gloton highlighting the Pampanga’s renowned lantern-making heritage and festive celebrations.
In November, the freeport hosted the travelling Vespa Museum Exhibition that featured 40 iconic Vespa models, vintage designs, and collectibles that highlight the enduring appeal of the Italian scooter brand.
Museum Capital
The Clark Museum will not remain for long all by its lonesome at the freeport.
On July 23, construction commenced for the Philippines’ first motor racing museum, the Clark Tony’s Motorsport Museum, sited adjacent to the Clark International Speedway. A project of Kilton Motor Corp., Pilipinas Shell, and Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc. (Mazda Phil.), the museum will feature racing bikes and motorcycles, Formula cars, racing cars, and go-karts. In addition, it will include a 1,200-square-meter conference hall for exhibitions, product launches, and private events, complete with a stage and dressing rooms.
Grander yet – in PCEO Devanadera’s words “one of the grandest things that will happen in Clark” – is the National Museum of the Philippines, now in advanced state of construction at the ruins of the former Clark Air Base Hospital.
NMP-Clark will feature exhibitions on local history, art, culture, natural history, anthropology, and archaeology. It will also serve as an off-site location for NMP’s central office and national collection repositories, among other functions.
Top Tourism Destination
Twice in a row, Clark has been named the top tourist destination at the annual Department of Tourism-Region 3’s Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards.
CDC was awarded the title of Filipino Brand of Service Excellence advocate, Most Creative Tourism Marketing Collateral – Social Media in the Province and Freeport Zone Category, and Most Creative Tourism Marketing Collateral – Printed (Brochure) in the Province and Freeport Zone Category.
The freeport’s tourism sector has seen growth over the past three years. Visitor arrivals increased from 30 million in 2022 to 32.5 million in 2023, and further surged to 34.8 million in 2024. This includes 1.37 million overnight tourists, 1.44 million same-day visitors, and 1.21 million airport arrivals. Shopping malls in Clark attracted 30.78 million visitors, contributing to a robust domestic and international tourism presence.
Tourists spent an estimated ₱28.7 billion in 2024, based on an average daily expenditure of ₱9,147.58 and an average length of stay of 2.3 nights. Major hotels in Clark maintained an average occupancy rate of 77.92%, indicating strong demand for accommodation.
Sports Tourism
At the 6th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) held in Cebu in November, Clark Freeport was elevated to its hall of fame, the first to be given that recognition.
Clark was cited for its consistent and multiple wins as Sports Tourism Destination of the Year in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, highlighting the freeport’s excellence in hosting premier sporting events that drive tourism and economic growth.
Major international and local sports events, including the Southeast Asian Games, triathlons, and marathons were among those held at then freeport which averages 100 events annually, drawing approximately 250,000 participants and visitors.
The Clark International Festival of Speed featuring an auto bazaar and outdoor exhibits on the latest in automotive innovation was held at the Clark International Speedway in October and November.
Over 150 football teams from across the country and international teams from Guam gathered at the Clark Parade Grounds for the Philippines Cup 2024 Football Tournament in December.
Only this March 16, the annual run-bike-run Clark Duathlon Classic had its 6th iteration, drawing some 400 athletes.
Culinary heartland
Clark is fast emerging as the very heartland of the unlegislated culinary capital of the Philippines that is Pampanga. Beyond the dulang of regional fare, the freeport offers a banquet of international dishes.
Hotels as well as stand-alone restaurants have their own shares of go-to cuisines, from Chinese to Italian, Japanese to American, Korean to Indian, and delectably, all in-between. But there’s no stopping the cornucopia of gustation in Clark.
New entrées in the smorgasbord of gastronomic delights are Couscousi Mediterranean Grill, the first of its kind in the freeport, and Rare Bar & Grill at the Quest+ Conference Center Clark offering the best steaks and dry-aged meats paired with handcrafted cocktails, and Huwon by Kiwa at Royce Hotel poised to be a top-tier choice for fine Korean dining.
Coming soon are Sayam House home-style Thai cooking, a food court and café, and, unarguably, the most wished-for Mario’s Restaurant, famed for its 50 years of culinary excellence.
Sustainability
“It’s all about people. It’s all about getting connected. It’s all about continuity and making the Philippines the best source of manpower.”
PCEO Devanadera defining the rationale of CDC entering into partnerships with higher institutions of learning to as far as the Visayas and Mindanao.
“Our people are our wealth. Your students are valuable assets to investors. We can continue to attract more investors because we have a workforce that is English-speaking, young, creative, and innovative. So, we look forward to having you, and welcome to Clark,” enthused the CDC chief.
Among the HILs the CDC has entered into MOAs with for its Clark Ambassador Program are the University of Mindanao; St. Paul University-Iloilo, Central Philippine University, and Visayas Aerospace College and Technology, all in Iloilo; Jose C. Feliciano College Foundation and University of the Assumption, both in Pampanga.
CDC is also synergizing aviation industry-academe collaboration through MOAs
with CAAP-approved Training Organizations (ATO), enhancing collaboration among government, academe, and the private sector to ensure educational curricula align with the aviation industry’s manpower needs.
Participating ATOs include DPR Aviation College, FDSA Aviation College of Science and Technology Inc., Jocson College Inc., and Masters Aviation Academy Inc.
PCEO Devanadera also led discussions with Southern Luzon State University- College of Engineering and SIA Engineering (Phil.) for internship opportunities for engineering students.
SCWELA Program
“This will carry you through. Your career in CDC may have started, but it will truly take off when you have the right qualifications.”
Thus, the CDC chief exhorted the first batch of CDC employees enrolled in the company’s Scholarship Collaboration for Workers Engaging in Learning Advancement (SCWELA) Program in partnership with the City College of Angeles. The SCWELA Program aims to provide undergraduate CDC employees with opportunities to continue their education and enhance their professional growth. Flexible class schedules help scholars balance academic commitments with work responsibilities.
RA 7227 redux
“In short, the Clark metropolis has what it takes to be a Mecca for tourists, a magnet of investments, and a market of goods and services. We must leverage these attributes into higher visitor traffic, attracting more investments that generate better jobs and spur economic activity.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. there affirmed the vision set forth for Clark by RA 7227 during a site inspection in July 2023 of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center (CMSMC) undergoing construction on a 5.7-hectare property in the freeport. The CMSMC is envisioned to be a world-class medical facility with state-of-the-art equipment that will provide specialized care in pediatrics, renal care, cardiovascular care, and oncology.
Marcos Jr. did not expressly mention the CMSMC is in effect an accomplished part of the mission set forth in RA 7227 – the promotion of the well-being of the communities contiguous to Clark.
What he said was broader in scope and scale: “I am happy that the province of Pampanga and Region III will again have this additional medical facility. It will also cater to patients not only from Region III but Regions I, II, and Metro Manila for the specialties in the heart, kidney, cancer, and pediatric ailments.”
“We must acknowledge the part played by PAGCOR and the Clark Development Corp. as they had spearheaded the efforts in coordination with the Department of Health, the provincial government of Pampanga, and other partners to construct this facility,” said the president, giving special mention to Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda for her persistence in pursuing the CMSPC to its fruition.
Made in Clark
On September 4, CDC hosted the inaugural Clark Business Interdependence Conference to promote collaboration among freeport locators and drive economic growth within the zone. It was a most auspicious occasion for the launch of “Made in Clark,” a certification by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, solidifying the Clark Freeport’s brand identity in the global market.
Enthused PCEO Devanadera: “And so, we were saying that when you are given the brand of Made in Clark Philippines, we have to make sure that you are up to quality. Made in Clark Philippines stands for excellence, and by upholding this standard, we elevate not just Clark, but the entire Philippines.”
Registered under IPOPHL’s 2023 Revised Trademark Regulations, the certification ensures the authenticity and quality of products manufactured within the freeport, effective as of Oct. 21, 2024, valid for 10 years until 2034.
Significant as it is, Made in Clark is more than a certification, it is a testament to the verity of the CDC chief’s message in the said conference, to wit:
“The true strength of Clark lies not just in its diversity of industries but in how these industries can collaborate, support, and elevate one another. This is the essence of business interdependence.” Not without a catalyst though, that is the CDC president and CEO.
A certification, a testament, Made in Clark is a brand of excellence – finding its full meaning in Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera.
