CLARK FREEPORT -- The total cost of the new Clark International Airport (CRK) passenger terminal will be at P15 billion and not P7.2-billion estimated by concerned government agencies.
This was clarified by Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) head Emigdio “Dino” Tanjuatco on Tuesday who said that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) has appropriated P15-B for the termional.
“The whole terminal is P15-billion. Ang nangyari initially, phasing dapat e. Kasi ang daming modifications from RDC (Regional Development Council) Central Luzon, NEDA ICC (Investment Coordination Committee) tapos sa NEDA Board,” Tanjuatco said.
The national government has already appropriated under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) some P1.2-billion for this year, according to the airport official.
Under the original proposal of the RDC, the P13 billion will be divided into two parts – P7 billion for the initial phase and P5 billion for the final expansion, Tanjuatco said.
At the ICC, another modification was made and the phase one of the airport development was expected to accommodate eight million passengers per year, he added.
“The phase one of the new terminal’s capacity is eight million and capacity until 2019 and then 2019 2022 mage-expand yan para maging 16 million passengers per annum,” Tanjuatco said.
“Pagdating sa Neda Board na modify na naman, so approved project ang unang phase ng terminal is that yung gagawin nating bagong terminal three million ang capacity. Kapag nagawa na natin yun which is 2018 ganyan, we will increase to eight million passengers annually,” he added.
CRK’s actual expansion and construction is modular and would not disrupt airport operations, Tanjuatco said.
The existing terminal has a capacity of four million passengers per year, Tanjuatco said.
The Neda and DOTC approved a new terminal designed to accommodate both long-haul and budget airlines.
“Nakita nga ng DOTC atsaka ng Neda na how will you attract airlines kung low-cost ka. Hindi lilipad yung mga malalaking eroplano dito. We already have an existing terminal e and we can dedicate this muna sa low-cost carriers,” the official said.
Based on the master development plan, the existing terminal will eventually be used by private jets.
“Meron tayong existing [customs, immigration, and quarantine] facilities dito e. Hindi na natin kailangan ayusin pa o gibain. Yung trend worldwide, nakikita ng mga negosyante na mas mabilis at safe ang private jets. So gagawin natin ito parang VIP para sa mga businessmen,” Tanjuatco added.
The Neda Board, chaired by Aquino, approved on September 4 five transportation and energy projects for implementation worth P131.4-billion including the new Clark airport passenger terminal.
Local businessmen and officials, including Clark airport executives, lauded the President for the project which is expected to spur economic development in Central and Northern Luzon.