Transferring domestic flights to Clark International Airport will decongest Manila and will start the genuine development of the airport, said Mabalacat City Mayor Marino ‘Boking’ Morales.
“We have been pushing for the development of Clark airport for a long time because Mabalacat City will also benefit from its presence. Airports are like economic generators – they provide livelihood and stimulate economic activities,” according to Morales.
Mabalacat City plays host to the Clark International Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone.
“The domestic flights will serve as feeder flights to and from Clark. Soon, long-haul carriers will start launching new destinations from Clark airport and that will start everything,” said Morales.
Morales has lauded the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to transfer domestic flights to Clark airport and the idea to build a road network between Manila and Clark.
“With DOTC Secretary Arthur Tugade who knows the issues in Clark, we expect positive things to come up in the future,” said Morales.
Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan echoed the views of Morales, noting that the transfer of local flights to Clark airport will decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Pamintuan, who met with Duterte in Davao City, personally told him the transfer of domestic flights and the regional Asian flights to Clark will ease traffic congestion.
“Motorists coming from the North will no longer add up to the volume of vehicular traffic along EDSA. We will have an airport in the North which is Clark and airport in the south which will serve passengers south of Metro Manila,” said Pamintuan.
Duterte has earlier broached the idea of putting a road network leading to Clark to support the transfer of the local flights in Pampanga. “This is just a native idea. We will make road access to Pampanga airport so that we can transfer the domestic flights,” Duterte said.