GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The city government has partnered with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) to help further boost the area’s trade and economic linkages.
City and CDC officials signed on Thursday a declaration of joint intent to specifically strengthen linkages between the city and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga “to achieve mutual economic benefits.”
The declaration was signed by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and CDC President Noel Manankil, during a visit by a delegation from the city to the Clark Freeport Zone.
CDC, a government-owned and controlled corporation, manages the Clark Freeport Zone.
Rivera, who was accompanied by several city government officials and department heads, said Friday the move was in line with the local government’s efforts to expand trade and economic exchanges between the city and key growth areas.
Under the declaration, he said they agreed to pursue collaborative undertakings on various common areas of interest.
He cited the conduct of trade and business missions to highlight trade, tourism and investments prospects between the two areas.
They will exchange information and best practices in the areas of agro-industrial development, tourism, air transport and logistics, land management and environmental protection, he said.
“We will explore opportunities in the transshipment of goods from the Soccsksargen region to central and northern Luzon and other foreign markets through the Clark International Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone,” the mayor cited.
He said they will also promote air connectivity between Clark International Airport and the city airport.
The city has been pushing for the opening of cargo and passenger flights between the two routes. The city is considered as the region’s airline hub and has seen a surge in traffic following the entry of budget airlines here several years ago.
The city airport, which is classified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines as an alternative international airport, serves six to seven direct flights daily to Cebu and Manila of the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. (PNA)
