A P12-billion budget terminal will rise on a 40-hectare area at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga that can handle about 10 million passengers a year. If all goes well, it will start operating in 2015.
The feasibility study on it will be finished by the end of next month or early April, at the latest, according to a top official of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC).
The study will then be turned over to the Department of Transportation and Communications transportation department.
“I will then brief Secretary Roxas about it,” CIAC President Victor Luciano said in an interview.
The Asia Foundation was tapped to conduct the study, at no cost to the government, said Luciano.
This new terminal will be linked to the existing passenger terminal. “The terminal itself will cost only P4 billion. But the civil works, new software system, and equipment are going to be expensive. We need a huge area where the airplanes will be parked. The pavement is going to be expensive,” Luciano said.
He said the need was for a new passenger terminal for budget carriers flocking to Clark. “Our existing terminal is not going to handle the rising number of passengers. It is being expanded, yes. But it may not handle future traffic,” Luciano said.
The volume of passengers within the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) is expected to jump to 1 million this year from 765,000 last year. “Budget airlines are coming in and adding more planes. That’s where the growth will come from,” said Luciano. He added that the DMIA handled 600,000 passengers in 2010.
The DMIA in Clark, Pampanga, is being considered to replace the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). There are three Naia terminals, all of which are expected to reach and exceed their designed capacity soon.
In line with its plan to build a budget terminal, CIAC is also mulling over a city air terminal in Metro Manila to transport passengers with scheduled flights at the DMIA. This project will also be spearheaded by the DOTC and could be included among the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Programs of the administration.
“We are looking at TriNoma, Centris or Mindanao Avenue for the city terminal in Metro Manila. They can check in there and there would be shuttle buses to transfer them to Clark. This way, passengers would no longer have to bring their cars to Clark. They can be transported at a very minimal cost,” Luciano said.
A feasibility study will be done by a third party before the project is auctioned off sometime this year.
“The important thing here is that we get a location. That’s why we will hire a third party for the study. The DOTC has set aside P120 million for this and if more funds are needed, then the participation of the private sector will come in,” Luciano said.
But as a necessary pre-requisite, Clark needs a high-speed train to the mainland, possibly in the central business district of Makati City so commuters will have a direct access going to the DMIA.
“The study does not include the high-speed train. When it comes to connectivity, it is the project of the DOTC. It is good that we have been placed under the DOTC,” Luciano said.
The CIAC used to be under the supervision of the Office of the President.
In Photo: Huge colorful hot-air balloons float over Clark Freeport Zone after they were launched for the 17th Philippine International Hot-Air Balloon festival that drew hundreds of local and foreign tourists. The festival will run until Sunday, February 12. (By Nonie Reyes)
