Clark airport upgrade through PPP eyed

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation is considering upgrading Clark International Airport through the public-private partnership (PPP) program.

Speaking at the general meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines yesterday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said he proposed that the upgrade of Clark International Airport be undertaken through PPP.

“Clark Airport has to be addressed by improving the facilities. There are programs to put up additional equipment. Some (pieces of) equipment there are no longer operable,” Tugade said.

He said it would be better to improve the airport through PPP, noting the private sector is competent in building as well as operating airports.

“It will be done in the next 10 months or so,” he said.

The Duterte administration wants to develop and promote greater use of Clark International Airport as part of efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Part of the government’s plan to promote the Clark Airport is to build a railway system to link either the NAIA or the Trinoma mall located in Quezon City to the airport.

A dedicated cargo rail will also be put up between Subic, which has an international seaport, and Clark.

The cargo rail will help develop a northern logistics corridor for the benefit of companies in the area.

Earlier, Tugade said the agency is planning to move turboprop or small aircraft being used for domestic flights from the NAIA to Clark.

The airport, managed by the Clark International Airport Corp., has an annual passenger capacity of 4.2 million.

Carriers using the airport are Cebu Pacific, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Cathay Pacific or Dragonair, Tigerair, Emirates and Qatar Airways.