THE new passenger terminal of Clark International Airport (CRK) is expected to open in May 2022.
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said this after he led the inspection of CRK Terminal 2 on Maundy Thursday, April 14.
During the inspection, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief asked officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) and Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (Lipad) Corporation to start accommodating more flights in Clark airport.
Tugade said additional international and domestic flights in Clark will help in decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
"Napakalaking tulong po ng CRK upang mabawasan ang congestion sa NAIA kaya't iniutos ko sa Caap at Lipad na pag-aralan at kaagad iimplement ang paglalagay ng karagdagang flights dito," he said
Tugade cited the improvements in the world-class passenger terminal of Clark airport, which is eyed as the country's next premier gateway.
"Ako ho ay natuwa sa aking nakitang improvements dito. At aking tinanong ang ating mga kasamahan sa Caap at Lipad sa mga kailangan pang kagamitan dito upang mapabilis natin ang pagbubukas nito para magamit at mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kababayan," the DOTr chief said.
"Nakatakda natin itong buksan sa Mayo ngayong taon," he added
The new airport terminal will provide convenient and comfortable travel to the passengers, Tugade said.
During his inspection of the airport, the DOTr chief was accompanied by DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Giovanni Lopez, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Aviation Jim Melo, Caap Deputy Director General for Operations Donald Mendoza, Caap Deputy Chief of Staff Roberto Martin, Caap Deputy Director General for Administration John Estabillo, Caap Acting Chief of Administrative and Finance Service Ernesto Milo, Lipad Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco, OTS Administrator Raul Del Rosario, Lipad Executive Vice President Noel Manankil and Lipad Vice President for Commercial Development Evangeline Tejada.