MANILA, Philippines – Will Clark be developed as the Philippines’ next premier international gateway?
Locators inside the Clark Freeport and special economic zone want the Aquino administration to decide now, saying their businesses have suffered due to the delay.
“It comes down to lost opportunities. [Investors] want to see further improvement by the government rather than constant changing of minds,” Jeff Pradhan, former president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association said in a media briefing.
The government has long planned to develop the airport (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) inside the former US military base as a major international gateway, next to the crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Companies banking on this promise set up investments in Clark.
Pradhan cited for instance Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering Clark. Singapore Airlines through SIA Engineering tied up with Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific in 2008 for a hangar and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, and spent P1 billion in 2010 to establish a second hangar. Metrojet also put up a $40-million MRO facility to cater to corporate jets.
“They (government) have not made up their minds and that is the problem,” said Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) adviser Capt. Benjamin Solis.
Solis urged the government to act quickly on the airport as NAIA has exceeded capacity—both on its terminal and runway—by 40%.
High-speed rail
Government began to waiver on its plan for Clark late 2012, saying there are a lot of conditions for it to be viable. One of them is the construction of a high-speed rail system that will connect Clark to Manila.
Clark is about 80 kilometers away from the capital. Metro passengers taking budget airline flights in Clark travel via buses or private cars that take the North Luzon expressway.
The China-funded NorthRail project, which was meant to speedily move passengers that distance, was dropped.
The project was negotiated under the Arroyo administration. It was suspended in March 2010 pending review due to alleged anomalies such as bloated costs.
In February 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the project was illegal because it did not go through bidding process.
The government tried to renegotiate the project, including costs and design, but it became uncertain following heightened territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.
Even if the project was dropped, the Philippines is paying a portion of a Chinese loan worth $185 million until 2014 to avoid affecting its chances of getting investment grade status.
Distance ‘irrelevant’
Solis however said distance between Clark and Manila should not be an issue as airports in other countries are located outside cities, away from central business districts.
“Distance is irrelevant, it is a flexible item. In other countries, all airports are far from the city. NAIA is an old airport in a large city with no other gateway and yet Clark is still not a viable option,” he lamented.
Solis said the government should speed up the development of the Pampanga airport by adopting a twin airport system wherein the Clark would co-exist with NAIA.
Terminal project
Passengers at the Clark airport are expected to hit 2.4 million each year starting 2013. The airport could only handle up to 1.2 million at end-2012, Transportation Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco earlier said.
The Transportation and Communications department is assisting CIAC in its plan to construct a new terminal at the airport that will serve 15 million passengers a year.
Solis said CIAC would present the P6-billion project to the National Economic and Development Authority in March.
He said the terminal is crucial especially with the start of the Dubai-Clark operations of Emirates and AirAisa’s ongoing expansion.
According to him, the proposed passenger terminal project could be offered under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership scheme because several private corporations are interested in the development.
Based on the land-use plan, he said about 30 hectares of the 2,400-hectare airport property could be used for commercial development. – Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/business/22254-clark-investors-to-gov%E2%80%99t-make-up-your-mind

Frequently visited resort hotel in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone shares news, articles, suggestions and ideas on matters that might enhance your visit to Subic and Clark Pampanga for vacation and travel, as well as to organize, plan or attend a corporate or social event near Manila.

The best hotels outside Manila in Pampanga and Subic are listed here including a beach resort which is a semi-private establishment located in the central business district near shopping, business, entertainment, airport and other conveniences of Philippines Clark Freeport Zone. This 13 hectare lake beach resort near Manila Philippines is highly recommended for family tourists with children or couples and individuals hoping to relax and enjoy peace and quiet in a laidback American suburban lifestyle.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Adding to the charm and attractiveness of the resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines are certain unique factors including safety, a keen sense of security and privacy that the main zone of Clark Freeport Zone offers. Angeles Philippines, Subic or Manila cannot offer the same sense of security like Clark Philippines. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.

Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177 ask for Pedro or Rechel

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit
http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

For assistance with wedding venues, organizing and planning a wedding reception or to find wedding services and consultants, log on to
www.philippinesweddingvenue.com

To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers and gourmands looking for good place to eat, fine dining restaurants and family resto bar may want to log on to www.YatsRestaurant.com

In the Freeport zone of Clark, there is a large wine shop that sells excellent vintage wine called Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine wine ranging from p500 to p500,000 a bottle and up. Log on to www. ClarkWineCenter.com for more information.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.