CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Citing the master plan of the Aeroport de Paris Ingenierie (ADPI), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has announced that the government is now eyeing to construct a 2nd runway at the Clark International Airport.
Before the site inspection of the new CRK terminal expansion project, Tugade said during his speech that now is the time to “retract and retrace plans” for a second runway.
“We would like to announce that government will begin planning and will construct the second runway in accordance with the ADPI plan. We are eyeing completion of this runway before the end of the term of the President,” the Secretary stressed.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Jaime Alberto Melo, for his part, cites the impact of building another runway.
“The second runway doubles the capacity of the airport. It can cater to three more terminals such as this (referring to the new passenger terminal),” he added.
“The growth of the Clark International Airport in the last two and a half years has been way above projection,” Melo furthered.
Engr. Joshua Bingcang, BCDA senior vice president for business development and operations, noted that the number of domestic passengers has increased dramatically by 4,812% from only 51,625 passengers in 2016 to a projected 2.5 million by yearend. On the other hand, international passengers is expected to reach over 1.5 million by 2019 representing a 72% increase from 899,000 passengers in 2016.
Domestic flights have increased exponentially by 8,866% from only six flights in 2016 to 538 in 2019. The number of international flights is expected to double by 2019 from 120 in 2016.
Upon full development, the Clark International Airport will be the nation’s next premier gateway helping to clear the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“This facility will anchor the rapid development of the other districts of Clark. It is not only a model for rapid implementation of projects but also a model for effective governance in the modern age.” Secretary Dominguez concludes.
Also present during the inspection of the Clark International Airport expansion project were Senators JV Ejercito and Joel Villanueva, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vivencio Dizon, Megawide GMR Chairman Edgar Saavedra, Megawide GMR Director Manuel Louise Ferrer, Filinvest Development Corp President and CEO Lourdes Josephine Gotianun-Yap, and Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) President Bi Yong Chungunco.