The Philippines’ new economic hotspot takes flight

LATE last year, the Philippine arm of carrier Air Asia launched a new set of routes with Clark as its hub. Now serving Iloilo, Tacloban and Puerto Princesa, apart from Davao, Caticlan, and Kalibo, the airline is one of the 12 already using the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)—including local players Air Swift, Cebgo, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines; and foreign flag-carriers Asiana Airlines, Cathay Dragon, Emirates, Jetstar, Jin Air, Qatar Airways, and Scoot. An average of 65 flights currently take off and land at DMIA every day.

In January of this year, a portion of the first phase of the 200-hectare National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) broke ground. Called Phase 1A, the portion will comprise the development of a 40-hectare property which will house a back-up office for various government agencies to ensure continued operations and delivery of services in the event of calamities or disasters. The Phase will also include the construction of a world-class sports complex, with a 20,000-seat stadium and an aquatic center for 2000, which will be ready for the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, has been described as being inspired by Malaysia’s Putrajaya government center. Malaysia-headquartered AlloyMTD Group was awarded the contract for the NGAC.