MANILA, Philippines \u2013 Will Clark be developed as the Philippines\u2019 next premier international gateway?
\nLocators inside the Clark Freeport and special economic zone want the Aquino administration to decide now, saying their businesses have suffered due to the delay.
\n\u201cIt comes down to lost opportunities. [Investors] want to see further improvement by the government rather than constant changing of minds,\u201d Jeff Pradhan, former president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association said in a media briefing.
\nThe government has long planned to develop the airport (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) inside the former US military base as a major international gateway, next to the crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
\nCompanies banking on this promise set up investments in Clark.
\nPradhan cited for instance Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering Clark. Singapore Airlines through SIA Engineering tied up with Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific in 2008 for a hangar and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, and spent P1 billion in 2010 to establish a second hangar. Metrojet also put up a $40-million MRO facility to cater to corporate jets.
\n\u201cThey (government) have not made up their minds and that is the problem,\u201d said Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) adviser Capt. Benjamin Solis.
\nSolis urged the government to act quickly on the airport as NAIA has exceeded capacity\u2014both on its terminal and runway\u2014by 40%.
\nHigh-speed rail
\nGovernment began to waiver on its plan for Clark late 2012, saying there are a lot of conditions for it to be viable. One of them is the construction of a high-speed rail system that will connect Clark to Manila.
\nClark is about 80 kilometers away from the capital. Metro passengers taking budget airline flights in Clark travel via buses or private cars that take the North Luzon expressway.
\nThe China-funded NorthRail project, which was meant to speedily move passengers that distance, was dropped.
\nThe project was negotiated under the Arroyo administration. It was suspended in March 2010 pending review due to alleged anomalies such as bloated costs.
\nIn February 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the project was illegal because it did not go through bidding process.
\nThe government tried to renegotiate the project, including costs and design, but it became uncertain following heightened territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.
\nEven if the project was dropped, the Philippines is paying a portion of a Chinese loan worth $185 million until 2014 to avoid affecting its chances of getting investment grade status.
\nDistance \u2018irrelevant\u2019
\nSolis however said distance between Clark and Manila should not be an issue as airports in other countries are located outside cities, away from central business districts.
\n\u201cDistance is irrelevant, it is a flexible item. In other countries, all airports are far from the city. NAIA is an old airport in a large city with no other gateway and yet Clark is still not a viable option,\u201d he lamented.
\nSolis said the government should speed up the development of the Pampanga airport by adopting a twin airport system wherein the Clark would co-exist with NAIA.
\nTerminal project
\nPassengers at the Clark airport are expected to hit 2.4 million each year starting 2013. The airport could only handle up to 1.2 million at end-2012, Transportation Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco earlier said.
\nThe Transportation and Communications department is assisting CIAC in its plan to construct a new terminal at the airport that will serve 15 million passengers a year.
\nSolis said CIAC would present the P6-billion project to the National Economic and Development Authority in March.
\nHe said the terminal is crucial especially with the start of the Dubai-Clark operations of Emirates and AirAisa’s ongoing expansion.
\nAccording to him, the proposed passenger terminal project could be offered under the Aquino administration\u2019s Public-Private Partnership scheme because several private corporations are interested in the development.
\nBased on the land-use plan, he said about 30 hectares of the 2,400-hectare airport property could be used for commercial development. \u2013 Rappler.com
\nhttp:\/\/www.rappler.com\/business\/22254-clark-investors-to-gov%E2%80%99t-make-up-your-mind<\/p>\n
The best getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga.<\/p>\n
Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for. Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines. Clark Pampanga offers many good resorts and hotels for a short trip out of Manila, and Clearwater is one of the best places to relax and unwind for a weekend getaway or a short holiday in Pampanga.<\/p>\n
This private resort in Pampanga is a frequently visited vacation spot outside of Manila. Included in the list of resorts highly recommended for families with children visiting Clark Philippines is Clearwater Resort located conveniently in the central business district of Clark Freeport which is accessible from Manila.<\/p>\n
Free internet WIFI access is offered to guests of this famous hotel in Clark Pampanga. Guests can even connect to Internet WIFI service near the white sand beach, by the famous lake of Clark or in any of the picnic grounds around this resort. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good place for family trips in Pampanga.<\/p>\n
Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Private resort is frequently visited during Holy Week and Easter Holidays for residents of Manila travelling out of town on getaway to the north to unwind and relax in outdoor resort.<\/p>\n
For reservations, comments and inquiries,<\/p>\n
Clearwater Resort & Country Club
\nCreekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
\nCentral Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
\nPampanga, Philippines 2023<\/p>\n
Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177<\/p>\n
Manila Sales Office
\n3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
\nExchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
\n(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay<\/p>\n