New passenger terminal ng Clark Airport, itinurn-over sa DOTr, BCDA

CLARK FREEPORT, PAMPANGA – Opisyal nang itinurn-over ng Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture sa Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) ang bagong passenger terminal building sa Clark International Airport.

Sa ginanap na seremonya ngayong Biyernes sa naturang airport site, iniabot ng Megawide ang sertipikasyon para sa pagkumpleto ng Clark International Airport new passenger terminal building’s engineering procurement and construction (EPC) works sa DOTr at BCDA, na hudyat na opisyal nang ipinauubaya ang pasilidad sa gobyerno.

Matapos ang symbolic rites, opisyal namang itinurn-over ng DOTr at BCDA ang operasyon at maintenance sa Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, ang operator ng Clark International Airport, para sa final fit-out bago ang pagbubukas at full operations ngayong taon.

Kayang tumanggap ng 8 milyong pasahero ang bagong passenger terminal building, na halos triple ang kapasidad ng paliparan mula sa kasalukuyang 4.2 milyon hanggang 12.2 milyon taon-taon.

“When we envisioned this project, nobody believed that we can make it happen. There were doubts and skepticism which may have defeated us along the way and hindered the completion of our goal. However, our determination and resolve were much stronger than any disbelief. Now, they will finally believe,” saad ni DOTr Secretary Tugade na ipinaabot ni Civil Avitation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco, na kumatawan sa Secretary sa naturang seremonya.

 “This important milestone will be forever etched in our history as a lasting legacy of the Duterte administration. Our gathering today marks another fulfillment of the promise of improved life for all,” dagdag niya.

Binigyang diin din ng bagong talagang chair ng House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, Congressman Aurelio Gonzales Jr., na ang papel na ginagampanan ng Clark International Airport ay bilang catalyst ng pagsulong.

“We envisioned this to be Asia’s next premiere gateway which will help foster economic growth. This is indeed a testament of the government’s goal in making Clark the next premiere metropolis of Asia and putting our country one step closer to progress and prosperity,” saad ni Gonzales.

Binanggit naman ng dating Pangulo at kasalukuyang Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Project na si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang kahalagahan ng proyekto at ang kontribusyon nito sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng bansa.

Binasa ni Clark Development Corporation (CDC) vice chairman ng Board of Directors na si Retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor ang remarks ng dating Pangulong Arroyo, kung saan sinabi nito na ““This airport is the flagship of how I envisioned Subic-Clark when I was a President: a competitive logistics and service center in the southeast Asian region.”

Ang 110,000 square-meter Clark International Airport new passenger terminal building ay isang joint project ng DOTr at BCDA at ang unang hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project sa ilalim ng Build, Build, Build program ng administrasyong Duterte.

Matatagpuan ito sa Civil Aviation Complex sa Clark Freeport Zone kung saan ang pagpapatayo nito ay ang unang yugto ng pagpapalawak ng paliparan.

Sinimulan ang pagpapatayo ng naturang pasilidad ng Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture, na nanalo sa kontrata para sa engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) ng terminal,  na inasaahang matatapos sa Oktubre 2020.

“We are very proud to once again be involved in one of the most vital airport projects of this administration, and its undertaking to create an effective multi-airport strategy in Luzon,” ayon kay Megawid Construction Corporation chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang assistant vice president at head ng Group Corporate Affairs na si Jason Torres.

Ayon naman kay BCDA senior vice president for conversion and development Joshua Bingcang, na ang pagkumpleto sa terminal ng paliparan ay kasama sa pangako ng BCDA na gawing susunod na premier ecomic hub sa Asya ang Clark. “The construction of the Clark International Airport New Terminal Building was done in record time. We are very excited for the facility to finally operate this year, as it will not only decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and enhance the passenger experience for the Filipino people but will also boost economic growth here in Clark and of the whole region,” saad ni Bingcang.

Ang world-class airport ay magsisilbi bilang major gateway sa Luzon, isa sa solusyon sa pagsisikip ng NAIA. Magdudugtong ito sa PNR North-Sourth Commuter Railway at Subic-Clark Railway. Hango ang arkitektura nito sa Siera Madre at idinisenyo rin na matatag sa kalamidad.