The newly built passenger terminal of the Clark International Airport will help ease air traffic congestion in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), promote more convenient travel, and boost economic growth in Luzon, President Duterte declared Saturday.

The President visited the new airport terminal building located in Clark, Pampanga, Saturday and lauded the “massive achievement” that would benefit the people. The new passenger terminal will have a capacity of eight million passengers a year, double the existing capacity of the Clark airport.

“I just hope that the local economy can absorb the number of people coming to visit the Philippines,” the President said in his speech.

“It will surely help decongest traffic at the busy Ninoy [Aquino] International Airport and provide a better flying experience for locals and tourists alike,” he said.

The President has commended the Department of Transportation, Bases Conversion and Development Authority as well as partners from the private sector for the completion of the new passenger terminal in Clark airport. It is considered a major project of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

“The structure before us reflects the administration’s unyielding commitment to improve the quality of life of every Filipino by providing big ticket infrastructure projects such as this that will improve connectivity, mobility, create jobs, and disperse economic activity to the regions,” the President said.

“This development will also certainly boost economic growth in North and Central Luzon and provide these regions their own gateway to the rest of the Philippines and the world,” he added.

As the nation recovers from the pandemic and adapt to a new normal, the President also said people could “look forward to a safer, easier, and more comfortable travel experience here at the Clark International Airport.”

Among the officials present were former President and now Presidential Adviser on Clark Programs and Projects Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Published July 17, 2021, 10:53 PM
by Genalyn Kabiling