Tugade backs Arroyo’s advice for Clark firm to become relevant

CLARK FREEPORT--A major policy recommendation from a presidential adviser of the Duterte administration for the Clark International Airport Corporation has the backing of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

This was according

CIAC president Aaron Aquino, saying that Transportation Secretary has no objection on the recent advice of Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Projects Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the agency to shift from a mere real estate developer to a globally-competitive service and logistics cen t er.

“I have no objection, and perhaps Vince (Dizon) has no objection, on presidential adviser Arroyo’s pronouncement that CIAC must concentrate on two things— logistics and services, for CIAC to become relevant,” Tugade said during a recent board meeting held on December 21 at Clark.

Tugade chairs the CIAC board of directors while Dizon, also the president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, concurrently sits as CIAC vice chairman.

Soon after Arroyo’s recommendation, Aquino said CIAC has started refocusing its marketing efforts on encouraging top investors in the logistics and service industries.

“We’re grateful that Secretary Tugade and BCDA President Dizon share the service and logistics center vision of former president Arroyo. With the guidance of these three leading figures in the Duterte administration to develop Clark, CIAC will definitely surge forward to become more relevant,” Aquino said.

The presidential adviser urged CIAC to start working on plans to further develop around 277 hectares of prime government-owned land surrounding the Clark International Airport as service centers of airlines, for logistics and warehouses, and transport hubs.