By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario/PNA
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The construction of the 1st Clark International Airport expansion project is now 52 percent complete ahead of schedule.
This was announced by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vivencio Dizon during the site inspection on Wednesday of the newest terminal of the Clark International Airport which is expected to be completed in mid-2020.
Considered to be the highest airport structure in the country today, Dizon said the newest terminal is 22 meters in height against Cebu’s Mactan International Airport 16 meters.
The new terminal features the beautiful views of the Sacobia mountain ranges to the West and the pride of Pampanga, Mt. Arayat, in the East.
“This is just a first phase of a five-phase expansion plan that is envisioned to make Clark International Airport a major gateway of the region,” said Dizon in a press briefing before the inspection.
He said that once completed, the five phases will bring the capacity of Clark International Airport to 80 million passengers per year.
The 82,600-squre meter terminal was designed and conceptualized by Architect Royal Pineda.
Dizon noted that the pieces of wood used at the newest terminal came all the way from Austria.
“We would like to thank President Duterte for making this beautiful project a reality,” he said.
Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the expansion of Clark Airport terminal is the fastest project being implemented under President Duterte’s term.
“Clark Airport is the next premier gateway to the nation which will anchor rapid development and other investments in Clark and in Asia. This is not only model for rapid implementation of projects, it is also a model for effective governance in the modern age,” he said.
Joining the site inspection were Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Joel Villanueva, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, and Tarlac 2nd district Rep. Victor Yap.
