BCDA eyes bigger airport

Agency offers to build more modern airport at Clark in partnership with the private sector

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority will build a bigger and more modern international airport at the Clark Freeport, with Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas at the helm of the project.

BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova in a statement Friday said the agency could start building the project within the term of President Benigno Aquino III through a public-private partnership scheme, given the urgency for a world-class airport.

He said BCDA had written Roxas to map out plans and strategies for major infrastructures under BCDA’s ownership and mandate such as the Clark International Airport.

He said BCDA in a meeting in September with Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco asked the Transportation Department to provide the milestones in delivering the Clark International Airport gateway terminals and chart the policy and regulatory framework for the development of the Philippine aviation industry.

Casanova said Clark International Airport Corp. and Clark Development Corp.—BCDA’s subsidiaries—supported the initiative for BCDA to lead the construction and development of the international airport.

“The only way to build this vital airport terminal is through teamwork and leveraging on each other strengths. We want to be a team under the guidance and leadership of Secretary Roxas. We have a very short window to make this happen and we want to do it now with the unity of purpose and singular focus in delivering the infrastructure which our country needs for a long time,” Casanova said.

“We welcome the resolution passed by the CIAC board for the BCDA to take the lead in the development of the Clark International Airport while the CDC board, on the other hand, supported the move,” Casanova said.

He said the BCDA had the legal authority, competence and the financial capability to undertake a mega utility project such as the expansion and development of the Clark International Airport.

He said the BCDA had proven its competence with its track record of delivering to government the world-class Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and succesfully concluding a public-private partnership agreement with Manila North Tollways Corp. for its operation and maintenance.

He said the development of the Clark International Airport was expected to boost the country’s economy with increased tourist arrivals and the creation of more investment opportunities and employment.


http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=/2011/october/22/business1.isx&d=2011/october/22