Groups back two-airport system for Luzon

Business groups have thrown their support behind the government’s plan to implement a two-airport system for Luzon to enhance air connectivity across the country.

In a statement, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. said it was one of the signatories to the “Clark: The Dual Airport Declaration,” which called for the designation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) as the southern aviation hub and Clark International Airport (CIA) as the northern aviation center on the island.

Clark, being a second international gateway, can complement the Naia, which has exceeded its runway capacity limit.

Apart from Philexport, other signatories to the declaration included Air Asia Philippines, American Chamber Foundation Philippines, Asia Foundation, Clark Investors and Locators Association, DHL Global Forwarding (Phils.), Global Gateway Logistics City, Intercommerce Network Services and Jamco Philippines.

Also signing the declaration were the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Philippine Academy for Aviation Training, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SIA Engineering, Subic Bay International Terminal Corp., Subic-Clark Alliance for Development, Tigerair Philippines and United Port Users Confederation.

According to Philexport, the declaration also urged the government to “fast-track [the] development of Clark’s infrastructure to meet current and future passenger, carrier and cargo growth.”

The signatories noted that Clark was deemed as the fastest-growing airport in the Philippines, recording a 71-percent passenger increase last year compared to the previous year’s level.

Citing the declaration, Philexport explained that the runways of Clark International Airport were “considered the best in the country in orientation, length and capacity.” Metro Clark is likewise an alternative to and an independent economic center from Metro Manila, anchored by the Clark airport complex, Clark freeport zone, and Subic-Clark logistics corridor.

Metro Clark’s “further and immediate development will contribute to decongesting Metro Manila, increasing economic activity north of Manila and opening new markets for export,” the declaration read.