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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Arroyo's vision for Clark making headway: official
By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK FREEPORT -- Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Levy Laus on Tuesday lauded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) which included the developments gained at this freeport.
Laus said the inclusion of Clark in Arroyo’s speech reaffirms the commitment of the present administration in asserting the freeport's role as a vital key player in the nation's growth.
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He said the President has not only outlined a vital framework for Clark as a competitive logistics and service hub in the Asia Pacific, she is also leading the way in attaining this vision with her hands-on approach.
"The President is more than just a visionary leader. She herself leads the way in getting things done in Clark. She realizes the potentials and the resources in Clark that could bring about a solid and more robust economic development throughout the nation," Laus said.
"Clark's family of leaders, locators, executives, employees and local residents are elated over the President's collective concrete efforts and for mentioning the recent gains that were posted inside the freeport," he added.
According to him, these developments gained headway during the President's term.
He said when Arroyo came in as President, the total number of workers in the zone was only 23,000. Today, that figure has more than doubled at over 50,000 and is projected to improve further before her term ends in 2010.
"We expect this figure to improve substantially as there are more investors now interested in Clark after it became a freeport during her watch," Laus said.
President Arroyo in her speech cited achievements inside the freeport that include the recent installation of a radar system at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), increasing number of commercial passenger and cargo flights, and final stages of the construction of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
She noted that DMIA is now the second busiest airport in the country, next to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). She also said Clark should have more airline service centers in the future.
"I am grateful to her for including Clark as among the focal points of development in the country today," Laus said.
An advocate of disaster mitigation measures since the lahar episodes in Pampanga in the 1990s, Laus also thanked President Arroyo for earmarking P5 billion for the Mt. Pinatubo flood control project in Pampanga.
He said this allocation will definitely boost flood control measures being implemented in the province. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (July 25, 2007 issue)
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