PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order reversing an Aquino administration order and reverted the Clark International Airport Corp. as a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
Executive Order No. 14, signed by Duterte on Feb. 28, orders the restructuring of the CIAC, currently an attached agency of the Department of Transportation, back to the BCDA “to ensure the development of the [Clark Civil Aviation Complex] remains parallel with the development of the [Clark Freeport Zone] as a premier investment and promotion destination” within 30 days.
“The DOTr is hereby ordered to facilitate the transfer and conveyance of the shares currently owned by the Republic of the Philippines, as well as those shares held in the name of its nominee stockholders, in favor of BCDA and its nominees,” the EO read.
“Any delay in the execution of such documents of transfer and conveyance of the shares of stock of CIAC shall not, in any event, delay, hinder or deter the immediate exercise of ownership rights over CIAC by BCDA,” it added.
The EO, however, provided that the Transportation Department would maintain its policy supervision and operational control over the CIAC.
The new CIAC is composed of the Transportation Secretary as chairman; the Tourism Secretary, BCDA president, and CIAC president as vice chairpersons and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director general and six Presidential appointees as members.
The Clark International Airport is being pushed to become the Philippine’s first aerotropolis and main gateway, replacing the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay.
The Clark complex used to be the hub of UPS cargo and Subic Bay was the hub of FedEx cargo until both relocated to China.
