This was announced by the officials of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) during the recent meeting of the Metro Clark Advisory Council members.
CDC president Levy Liberato P. Laus stated that the state-owned firm promotes sports tourism to attract more visitors inside the Freeport. "We promote the area as a tourist and sports destination in Central Luzon," he said.
The event is sponsored by New Balance-Planet Sports with CDC as its partner.
Laus, who is the chairman of the MCAC, said the event will bring a new and different running experience at Clark as one of the most ideal running routes in the country.
According to Laus, it will be the first time that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Timing System will be used to raise the standard of running races in the Philippines for the first 500 participants of the 25-kilometer category.
Laus gave a go signal for the event -- national half-marathon (25-km) -- after a meeting with the race proponents led by Anton Gonzales, president of Planet Sports Inc.; Bing Buenaventura, brand manager of New Balance Brand; Danny Dela Peña, gen. manager of Planet Sports Inc.; and Eric Imperio, race director of Extreme Multi-Sports Inc.
Clark is no longer just an investment haven because it is now fast becoming a favorite sports tourism destination in Central Luzon.
Sports tourism events have become a regular fixture inside the Freeport, Laus told the MCAC members. CDC Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office manager Noemi Garcia said marathoners from all over the country, including those who will compete in the South East Asian Games, will be joining the event. Garcia said Clark is a regular host for the North Philippines Tourism
Marco Polo Cup, Padyak Pinoy, Clark Off-Road Duathlon, and the annual
National Duathlon.
The Freeport is also host to several drag-racing and shootfest events, she added. Shootfest events are being hosted by Clark Eagle Firing Range, which
has been considered the best in the South East Asian circuit and the biggest in the country.
Cart racing is expected to hit Clark as the Kilton Motor Corporation has started the construction design for the Formula 3 racing event. Sports tourism event was launched by CDC in 2004 as part of its Leisure Entertainment for Resort and Tourism (LERT), one of the four growth engines of the Freeport area.
