CLARK – The new leadership of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) is pushing for the rebranding of the entire aviation complex here as the Aviation Capital of the region.
During the December edition of Pampanga Press Club’s News@Hues at the Park Inn Radisson Clark, CIAC president Joseph “Jojit” Alcazar said they are “redefining CIAC’s purpose” to focus not just on the airport but on all other developments that support the 2,200-hectare aviation complex where the Clark International Airport (CRK) is located.
He said the approach is to provide holistic urban development, which would make the aviation complex globally competitive. This can be done, he added, by starting a partnership with the private sector and other government agencies.
Alcazar went on to discuss CIAC’s seven flagship projects, which are divided into 3 major categories – logistics, aviation, business tourism.
The aim of the projects is to transform Clark as a premier civil aviaton logistics hub of the country or Aviation Capital.
Part of the flagship projects is the Clark National Food Hub, which is composed of different business opportunities and components. It is aimed at giving farmers, growers and other corollary industries the chance to distirbute their crops in the region and the entire country.
According to Alcazar, farmers will be given the opportunity to grow their market and export their products.
He mentioned a study being conducted on this project by the Asian Development Bank. The results are expected to come out in March 2025, after which CIAC can accept PPP proposals to achieve the target to launch the project within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Alcazar said the food hub is also being eyed as a Halal hub of the Asia Pacific Region.
“Halal is an untapped and underserved market in terms of food production,” he said.
The new CIAC president said that while there are infrastructures in place in Clark, much still has to be done in terms of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism.
This is where the plan to transform the complex into a World Convention Events hub comes in, Alcazar said.
“We need to compete with counterparts in the Asia Pacific Region,” he quipped.
He discussed the proposal for an International Convention Center, a sports arena, and a multi-modal mobility terminal.
“The terminal is strategic to be able to satisfy the transportation needs of passengers coming into Clark, going all the way to North Luzon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Urban Renewal and Heritage Consevation Program includes the construction of the Clark Heritage Park, Clark Public Realm, Dolores River Park and Clark Aviation Park.
According to Alcazar, the parks will have rain catchments to recycle water and distribute it in the area, which will also help in flood mitigation.
The International Aviation Campus, meanwhile, seeks to address the lack of professionals in the aviation industry and the problem of skills mismatch.
“Skills are mismatched with actual requirements, so we are talking with TESDA with regard to matching skills. We are also inviting investors and world-known educators to locate to Clark,” Alcazar said.
He also mentioned the improvement of the whole area in terms of horizontal development.
“We will have a detailed design of road networks to the aviation capital in six months. The key compoment here is the direct access link to SCTEX,” he said.
Aside from other road networks to support development in the area, the CIAC is working on CRK’s Runway 2 and 3 in anticipation of the growth of the airport in the future.
The Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, meanwhile, is in support of the global objective to minimize carbon emissions in the airport.
According to Alcazar, the Clark Aviation Capital Center, which is seen as a landmark or iconic structure, will also house commercial and offices to provide more spaces for locators. The CIAC Headquarters will also be relocated there, he said.
