Clark investors to gov’t: Make up your mind

MANILA, Philippines – Will Clark be developed as the Philippines’ next premier international gateway?
Locators inside the Clark Freeport and special economic zone want the Aquino administration to decide now, saying their businesses have suffered due to the delay.
“It comes down to lost opportunities. [Investors] want to see further improvement by the government rather than constant changing of minds,” Jeff Pradhan, former president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association said in a media briefing.
The government has long planned to develop the airport (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) inside the former US military base as a major international gateway, next to the crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Companies banking on this promise set up investments in Clark.
Pradhan cited for instance Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering Clark. Singapore Airlines through SIA Engineering tied up with Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific in 2008 for a hangar and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, and spent P1 billion in 2010 to establish a second hangar. Metrojet also put up a $40-million MRO facility to cater to corporate jets.
“They (government) have not made up their minds and that is the problem,” said Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) adviser Capt. Benjamin Solis.
Solis urged the government to act quickly on the airport as NAIA has exceeded capacity—both on its terminal and runway—by 40%.
High-speed rail
Government began to waiver on its plan for Clark late 2012, saying there are a lot of conditions for it to be viable. One of them is the construction of a high-speed rail system that will connect Clark to Manila.
Clark is about 80 kilometers away from the capital. Metro passengers taking budget airline flights in Clark travel via buses or private cars that take the North Luzon expressway.
The China-funded NorthRail project, which was meant to speedily move passengers that distance, was dropped.
The project was negotiated under the Arroyo administration. It was suspended in March 2010 pending review due to alleged anomalies such as bloated costs.
In February 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the project was illegal because it did not go through bidding process.
The government tried to renegotiate the project, including costs and design, but it became uncertain following heightened territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.
Even if the project was dropped, the Philippines is paying a portion of a Chinese loan worth $185 million until 2014 to avoid affecting its chances of getting investment grade status.
Distance ‘irrelevant’
Solis however said distance between Clark and Manila should not be an issue as airports in other countries are located outside cities, away from central business districts.
“Distance is irrelevant, it is a flexible item. In other countries, all airports are far from the city. NAIA is an old airport in a large city with no other gateway and yet Clark is still not a viable option,” he lamented.
Solis said the government should speed up the development of the Pampanga airport by adopting a twin airport system wherein the Clark would co-exist with NAIA.
Terminal project
Passengers at the Clark airport are expected to hit 2.4 million each year starting 2013. The airport could only handle up to 1.2 million at end-2012, Transportation Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco earlier said.
The Transportation and Communications department is assisting CIAC in its plan to construct a new terminal at the airport that will serve 15 million passengers a year.
Solis said CIAC would present the P6-billion project to the National Economic and Development Authority in March.
He said the terminal is crucial especially with the start of the Dubai-Clark operations of Emirates and AirAisa’s ongoing expansion.
According to him, the proposed passenger terminal project could be offered under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership scheme because several private corporations are interested in the development.
Based on the land-use plan, he said about 30 hectares of the 2,400-hectare airport property could be used for commercial development. – Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/business/22254-clark-investors-to-gov%E2%80%99t-make-up-your-mind

The best getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for. Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines. Clark Pampanga offers many good resorts and hotels for a short trip out of Manila, and Clearwater is one of the best places to relax and unwind for a weekend getaway or a short holiday in Pampanga.

This private resort in Pampanga is a frequently visited vacation spot outside of Manila. Included in the list of resorts highly recommended for families with children visiting Clark Philippines is Clearwater Resort located conveniently in the central business district of Clark Freeport which is accessible from Manila.

Free internet WIFI access is offered to guests of this famous hotel in Clark Pampanga. Guests can even connect to Internet WIFI service near the white sand beach, by the famous lake of Clark or in any of the picnic grounds around this resort. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good place for family trips in Pampanga.

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Private resort is frequently visited during Holy Week and Easter Holidays for residents of Manila travelling out of town on getaway to the north to unwind and relax in outdoor resort.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, Youmay click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com