QUEZON CITY -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday, July 17, led the inspection of the newly completed 110,000-square meter Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building, which now awaits the green light to operate from aviation regulators.

The inspection included testing of check-in kiosks, bag drops, and other contactless features of the new terminal building. President Duterte was joined by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD) Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officials, and private sector partners. 

Once operational, Secretary Tugade said the new terminal building will not only provide a modern air travel experience, but will help the economy recover from the pandemic and equip Northern and Central Luzon with transportation infrastructure for the future.

"Clark International Airport will clearly showcase the best of Northern and Central Luzon; from the world-class service this new terminal will offer and to the thousands of job opportunities it will further open for many of our kababayans, it is no doubt that the Clark International Airport will cement its position as the next premier gateway of Asia. This will prove that the Duterte Administration’s Build, Build, Build is not just a dream … it is REAL, it is TRUE, and it is HERE,” Secretary Tugade said.

Secretary Dizon said the modernization and expansion of Clark International Airport is needed more than ever as it will help the Philippines “bounce back better,” not just by the jobs it creates, but also through the supply chain it supports and the trade it facilitates. 

Clark International Airport is expected to create 150,000 new jobs, equating to 0.4% of the total employed population in the Philippines. Through production links, supporting industries such as tourism, food and beverage, services, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing are expected to benefit from the modernized and expanded Clark airport.

“Thank you to the more than 3,000 workers, engineers, architects, and designers, who built this world-class airport for all of us. This is truly a testament to the skill and talent of the Filipino... Today, despite the challenges of the pandemic, despite the scourge of COVID-19, this truly world-class airport is now here for every Filipino to enjoy,” said Secretary Dizon, who also serves as Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects. “We hope and we pray that this unprecedented infrastructure program will be continued by the administrations to come.”

LIPAD, the operator and manager of the Clark International Airport, assured that the new terminal building was designed to be a space of safety, ease, and quiet, with peace of mind of travelers high in its priority, especially in this time of global health crisis.

Chungunco said her group equipped the new terminal building with state-of-the-art technology and vital contactless solutions for smooth and safe operations. 

"Intuitive and inclusive – this will be our mantra for the new Clark International Airport. LIPAD designed CRK to be the airport of choice for travelers flying in or out of the Philippines. Top priority is to fulfil the mission of giving passengers a world-class travel experience, through new technologies that support a seamless process and commercial offerings that constantly cater to passengers’ needs while still maintaining that signature Filipino, and of course, Pampango experience." said Chungunco.

The new terminal building, which caters to domestic and international passengers, is located 1.5 kilometers from the existing Clark passenger terminal. It has four-floor levels, 18 aero bridges and a floor area of 110,000 square meters, and has a design capacity of 8 million passengers per year.

Chungunco said LIPAD takes all necessary steps to ensure that passengers, both inbound and outbound, go through strict safety measures. “LIPAD remains flexible and adaptable to the needs of travel and assures the public that Clark International Airport is steadfast in prioritizing public health and is well-equipped for it.”

LIPAD is composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Services, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International. 

The Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building is the first hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project completed under the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration. The construction of the structure was handled by a consortium of Megawide Construction Corporation and GMR Infrastructure Limited, while the fit out, operations and maintenance were later auctioned off and awarded to LIPAD.

A total of 212 airport projects, 446 seaport projects, 10,376 flood mitigation structures, 26,494 kilometers of road, and 5,555 bridges have already been completed under the Build, Build, Build program.  (BCDA/DOTR/LIPAD)