Clark Aviation Capital of the Philippines Launched

The 2,367-hectare prime government land surrounding the Clark International Airport will now be called the Clark Aviation Capital of the Philippines, envisioned as an "aviation-centric business capital of the country," according to Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president Arrey Perez.

CIAC, a subsidiary and the premier aviation and land development arm of the BCDA, has been tasked by the DOTr to exercise oversight functions over the Clark airport. I Photo: CIAC - Clark International Airport Corporation Facebook

Perez led the formal launching of the aviation capital, joined by the agency’s directors and personnel, as well as Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Aviation Roberto Lim, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) vice president Kenneth Peralta, and Dr. John Ortiz Teope, representing BCDA chair Thompson Lantion.

“Clark makes one's dream work. The airport is at the center of Clark, the heart that connects the country to the world. But the airport is just one special component in this [aviation] capital we will build, because beyond this airport is an aviation-centered metropolis that will make the dream work, fly. And because it works, dreams fly,” Perez said.

“The vision is to build the country’s aviation capital with a dynamic ecosystem combining aviation, logistics, commerce, and sustainable urban development contributing to national economic progress,” he added.

CIAC, a subsidiary and the premier aviation and land development arm of the BCDA, has been tasked by the DOTr to exercise oversight functions over the Clark airport.

Perez noted that the Clark Aviation Capital, with its over 2,000 hectares of sprawling area, is primed for local and foreign investments.

“The capital will transform the erstwhile idle lands into a global hub for innovation, investment, and infrastructure to boost airport operations, generate new revenue streams, and promote economic and food security,” he highlighted.

He further pointed out that CIAC is looking toward attracting partners in cargo and logistics services, vertical infrastructure projects, sustainable development of heritage parks to attract more tourists, and institutions like the national food hub—all clustered as the Seven Flagship Projects—and other initiatives that will substantially contribute to the nation’s economy.

Perez emphasized that since September last year, CIAC has been aggressively promoting the seven flagship projects, including the Clark National Food Hub, a proposed legislative bill approved by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Trade and Industry on Aug. 20.

The flagship projects also include the establishment of a World Events and Entertainment Center and the Urban Renewal and Heritage Conservation program.