CDC to boost efforts for Clark’s economic growth

CLARK FREEPORT-With its new president at the helm, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) will boost its efforts that underscore business recovery of its locators and redefine the freeport’s global competitiveness.

This can be gleaned from the first meeting of newly-appointed CDC President and Chief Executive

Officer Manuel Gaerlan with the CDC management and executive officers.

During the activity, Gaerlan outlined strategies for improving the investment climate in the freeport.

Gaerlan mentioned that by focusing on an economic recovery plan, the freeport can further contribute to the national government’s initiatives in cushioning the effects of the COVID19 pandemic in the country.

He also said that there is also a need to boost investors confidence in Clark as CDC refocuses its attention to “economic reset, rebound, and recover” to arrest the gripping effects of the pandemic inside the freeport.

CDC also aims to make the Freeport a modern and sustainable aerotropolis and preferred meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030.

Aside from this, the new CDC head also shared that this freeport is capable of competing

with other investment destinations in other Asian countries.

“Clark is not in battle between cities and provinces. It is not competing against Manila. Clark’s competition is Indonesia, Vietnam, and even China,” he added.

To further promote the ease of doing business in the freeport, Gaerlan likewise encouraged his team to incorporate modern technology in the stateowned firm’s system, methods, and processes. With this approach, he believes that Clark will be able to attract more investments and achieve its vision of becoming a premier aerotropolis and a preferred MICE and tourism destination across Asia Pacific Region.

Similarly, he motivated his team to continuously deliver services that are at par with international standards.

Apart from refining business activity procedures here, Gaerlan will also give priority to enhancing the welfare of investors and their employees. He is set to meet with stakeholders of Clark that includes the locators, Local Government Units (LGU) officials, media, partner agencies and other groups from public and private sector.

Gaerlan, who finished Master of Management with distinction at the Asian Institute of Management in 2002, took his oath as CDC’s top executive last week.