Clark Freeport—The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) will improve the facilities of the airport here, including its control tower and ground light system to complement the opening of its new passenger terminal next year.
Ret. Gen. Aaron Aquino, president of CIAC, said the improvement includes upgrading the airfield ground lighting system worth P500 million and the airport control tower, an 18-story building amounting to P375 million.
Aquino said the funds for the projects were provided for under the General Appropriation Act of 2020 under the account of the government-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
CIAC is a subsidiary of BCDA.
A ccording to Aquino, the construction of the multimillion projects will start within a few months after the public bidding.
The changes would dovetail with the opening of the new P12.55-billion passenger terminal, designed to accommodate 8 million travelers a year.
The passenger terminal was to open this year, but the coronavirus pandemic forced its postponement to 2021. The project, which started in April 2018, is now 95 percent finished, Aquino said.
The privatized operation and maintenance of Clark International Airport is now run by Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD).
Earlier, the CIAC board of directors approved the appointment of Irish Calaguas as the new Vice President for Airport Operation and Management Group (AOMG) during their recent regular meeting.
Calaguas holds a master’s degree in education from the Philippines Women University (PWU) and is an expert on local and national government management policies.
“IC” to colleague and friends, Calaguas was a former reporter based in Pampanga. Romeo Dizon