CLARK FREEPORT -- A top executive of the Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) said their 1,800-hectare mixed-used estate in Porac town is benefitting from Clark International Airport.
John Estacio, general manager of Alviera Estate, said airports spurs development around in their surrounding areas.
"Why we are here in Pampanga? It is because of Clark airport. We are excited about this because airports are magnets for industry and commerce," Estacio added.
In the past three years, Clark airport has recorded a three-fold increase in passenger count, according to the Alviera executive.
By 2020, Estacio said the capacity of Clark airport will grow to another four times with 12 million passengers per year.
According to Estacio, the government, in partnership with the private corporation, has earmarked P180 billion for infrastructure projects in the Clark growth corridor which covers Subic to the west and Nueva Ecija in the east.
"This is the best time to be in Pampanga. With P180 billion in investments in the Clark corridor alone, economic activity is palpable. And this infrastructure projects are not just plans in the drawing board. All are funded. Most have started and some are even close to completion," he said.
Estacio also mentioned the railway system that will connect Metro Manila, Clark Freeport, and New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
"It has been a long journey, but finally the 147-kilometer Manila Clark Passenger Railway is ready to go. With rail, large numbers of people may be transported in an efficient and reliable manner," Estacio said.
"Travel from Tutuban to Pampanga will only be one hour, predictable journey for as many as 300,000 passengers a day," he added.
Other projects that will help in the development of Central Luzon and other parts of the country are the expressways and connector roads which will connect various towns and cities in Luzon, Estacio said.
"From the South, the NLEX-SLEX connector road will enable those from Laguna to travel to Alviera via toll road all the way. Imagine, bypassing all the traffic of Edsa. From the east, the Central Luzon Link Expressway or CLLEX will connect us to Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. From the north, the expansion of TPLEX will connect us beyond Pozzorubio, Pangasinan and further to San Juan in La Union," he added.
Ayala Land Inc. has completed its leisure and tourism estate -- Sand Box and Alviera Country Club, Estacio said.
Since 2015, Alviera has sold 2,800 residential lots across three residential brands. Estacio claimed that early buyers now enjoy a 25 percent value appreciation of their properties.
He said the Alviera Industrial Park now houses the Monde Nissin Corporation and the Badan Building Materials Corporation with 200 and 150 employees, respectively.
"Alviera is all about building communities, developing neighborhoods, and providing safe spaces for families," Estacio said.