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By Joey Aguilar, Correspondent
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga: “This is a clear
indication of President Gloria Arroyo’s vision to see the
Philippines as a first world country by the year 2030.”
Thus said Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking”
Morales expressing his optimism and confidence for the leadership of
the Arroyo administration, especially the President’s full support
for the development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
(DMIA). The President, together with airport and local officials in
Pampanga, is expected to lead the inauguration of the expanded DMIA
terminal today.
Morales said the P112.9-million terminal is a
welcome development and “it will encourage investors to relocate
their business interest in Metro Clark communities and enhance the
tourism industry.”
He also disclosed his plans for Mabalacat in
preparation for the airport’s full operation.
“We’re coming up with a master development
plan to develop the northeastern part of the municipality comprising
of 3,000 hectares into a central business district [CBD],” Morales
said.
He added that the CBD would spur economic
activities and generate employment for the people of Mabalacat.
On the other hand, Angeles City Councilor Jay
Sangil said any development at the DMIA and inside the Freeport will
benefit millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially
those coming from Central and Northern Luzon.
Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC)
President Victor Jose Luciano said most OFWs from nearby Asian
countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok, Macao and Hong Kong
said they prefer to land at the DMIA because of the convenience,
security and the cheaper airfare charged by budget airlines.
“OFWs headed overseas no longer have to travel
all the way to Manila to catch their flights because DMIA is right
at their door step. Cheap fares also allow our beloved OFWs to go
home as often as they want,” Luciano said in a statement.
Still part of the preparations, local officials
said LGUs in Pampanga and nearby provinces already started
implementing various projects in the field of health, education,
solid waste management and other infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, Advocacy for the Development of
Central Luzon President Renato “Abong” Tayag said they are
“thankful that the developments are being realized today, in time
when the country needs the most positive movements that would ignite
our economy.”
“The new terminal will increase DMIA’s
competitiveness in the aviation market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Luciano is expected to lead the
blessing of the new expanded terminal at about 9:30 a.m. to be
officiated by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto followed by the ribbon
cutting that will be led by President Arroyo at 10 a.m.
The President will also witness the signing of
two agreements between CIAC and Kuwait Gulf and Link and SIA
Engineering Company.
In a press statement, CIAC officials said the
expanded passenger terminal could now accommodate at least two
million passengers annually.
They also said that DMIA has recorded
significant growth in recent years. It now has at least 60
commercial flights a week by international airlines like Air Asia,
Tiger Airways, Asiana, Hong Kong Express and China Southern, and
domestic carriers Seair, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit, CIAC
officials said.
The terminal now has a floor area of 6,279
square meters consisting of pre-departure, check-in lobby, baggage
claim area and the arrival area, or an additional 914 square meters
from the previous 5,365 square meters.
The expanded terminal also features an
additional immigration counter, five new airline offices, a
concessionaires’ area and five airline-ticketing offices, among
others. A new baggage conveyor at the arrival area and a check-in
conveyor with carousel at the check-in area, costing a total of P23
million, have also been installed at the expanded terminal. The new
terminal also features state of the art x-ray machines worth P10.2
million; back-up generators worth P14million; close circuit
televisions at P4.9 million; and flight information display systems
worth P4.9 million.
CIAC will soon embark on the development of the
Terminal 2 project expected to commence by the middle of this year.
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