Three days after it was closed, the Airport to New Clark City Access Road (ANAR) will open to traffic anew starting tomorrow, February 22, 2024 making available the vital artery that is expected to “unlock the full potential of Clark,” according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos, who inspected the 900-meter Sacobia Bridge linking Clark International Airport to the rest of ANAR, has described the access road as “a red carpet rolled out to those who will partake in all the best things that Clark can offer.”
“This road is much more than just an access road. It is part of our plan to propel Clark as an alternate growth area,” said Marcos, who inspected the Sacobia Bridge along with Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chairman Delfin Lorenzana, and BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang.
“It shows the path forward, of Building Better More so we will never lose our competitive advantage because unlocking the full potential of Clark is a continuing task,” said Marcos.
“This Clark International Airport to New Clark City Access Road or ANAR is a key component in boosting the Clark metropolis as an investment and tourism destination. It is a part of a larger package of ‘Build Better More’ activities, it aims to enlarge Clark’s profile in the global investment map. Project such as this all convey one message to prospective investors: It conveys the message that we are committed to building world class infrastructure that can host a business in a high-growth area.
“The government is ready to provide adequate infrastructure and facilities to ensure the growth of their future investment,” said Marcos.
He said the modernization of the Clark International Airport has now taken off with nearly 2 million passengers recorded in 2023 slowly picking up after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Clark airport will be linked to the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) all the way to Bulacan, Manila, Laguna, and Batangas. “Construction of a rail link to Metro Manila is proceeding at full speed,” said Marcos.
“At alam n’yo rin lahat, na hindi lang pang-negosyo, hindi lang pang-turismo, pang-sports pa ang Clark dahil we are also building a Clark’s physical capital, we are upskilling the required human capital that will run businesses and will drive prosperity,” said Marcos.
Tarlac Governor Susan Yap said they had already sign an MoU with BCDA for the skills training program of Tarlaquenos who will be hired by the companies that will operate at the New Clark City.
Bingcang said more than P95 billion investments will be infused in the New Clark City citing the entry of an Australian firm who will manufacture batteries for e-vehicles all over the world. The Australian firm will invest an initial P600 million and will employ an initial 150 workers.
Among the big ticket investments at the NCC include the Hann Reserve, a 450-hectare luxury mountain resort that straddles along ANAR and its first phase is estimated to cost a staggering P17 billion.
For the first phase of the mixed-use integrated lifestyle resort development of Hann Reserve, it will feature the Banyan Tree luxury hotel and residences including an 18-hole Nicklaus designed golf course which is already taking shape and can be seen from the CRK-NCC Road. The golf course is the first of the three world-class courses and PGA-affiliated player development facilities that will rise in the integrated resort. It will also include a clubhouse and a 10-hectare public park with ancillary facilities.
Hann Reserve will also serve as home to luxury hotel brands such as Banyan Tree and Angsana Resort, Sofitel and Emblems by Accor Group and The Luxury Collection and Westin by Marriott International.
Another tourism-related project is the 288-hectare Filinvest New Clark City (FNCC), a smart metropolis that is expected to integrate ecology, technology, and architecture or what it calls eco-tech-ture philosophy.
It will feature the Innovation Park, a business hub that will house warehouses, factory facilities for logistics, e-commerce, light manufacturing, and data center operations of local and international businesses.
Marcos said, “Clark can now host a wide range of economic activities including innovation labs, creative workshops, manufacturing concerns, leisure complexes, and a cyber corridor.”
“If food happens to be the concern, then Clark is in the heartland of an agricultural powerhouse. Not to mention the powerful draw and the seductive aroma of Kapampangan cuisine,” said Marcos,
In short, the Clark metropolis has what it takes to be a mecca for tourists, a magnet of investments, and a market of goods and services. We must leverage these attributes into higher visitor traffic, attracting more investments that generate better jobs and spur economic activity.
Marcos has asked the BCDA to ensure the completion of the remaining works for the 20-kilometer highway.
Marcos was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Transport Secretary Jimmy Bautista, Senator Mark Villar, Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, Pampanga Vive Governor Lilia Pineda, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., Rep. Jon Lazatin II and other public officials.