The Clark International Airport (CRK) opened the gates of its new passenger terminal building today, 02 May 2022, after all departing and arriving flights were transferred to the modern, state-of-the-art facility envisioned to be Asia’s next premier gateway.
The 110,000 square-meter new CRK terminal has a design capacity of at least 8 million passengers annually, providing Filipinos with a transport facility that will help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila.
Domestic and international travelers at the terminal were introduced to its facilities equipped for the new normal of travel. These include contactless features such as self-service check-in kiosks and bag drop systems, on top of inclusive amenities including all-gender restrooms, nursing stations, multi-faith prayer rooms, and the country’s first-ever lounge dedicated exclusively for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
To recall, the construction of the new terminal was completed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges.
“Despite and notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, sige-sige at tuluy-tuloy ang trabaho para mapakinabangan agad ang proyekto ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya naman natapos sa kabila ng pandemya. This project is a living proof that if we work together and jointly commit ourselves to provide a life of comfort and convenience for all, nothing will be impossible,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade said.
BCDA Officer-in-Charge President and CEO Atty. Aristotle Batuhan said, “Finally, our dream of having a world-class airport serving Filipino travelers has been realized with the opening of the Clark International Airport new terminal building. This is a testament to the legacy of the Duterte administration, with the terminal building completed as the first hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project under the Build Build Build agenda. We at the BCDA are proud to have played a role in making this possible in partnership with DOTr, LIPAD and our public and private sector partners.”
“Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the 3,000 workers, engineers, designers and architects who worked tirelessly on the new terminal, even through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through their sacrifice, the new Clark terminal building is set to soar high, not just as Asia’s next premier gateway, but soon as a provider of jobs to thousands of Filipinos,” he added.
A joint project by the DOTr and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the new passenger terminal building is the first hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) project under the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration. In January 2021, the DOTr and BCDA turned over the new airport terminal to its operations and maintenance partner, the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation.
“Today we celebrate not only the opening of the new terminal building of Clark International Airport, but also the hard work of our team members, contractors, partners and stakeholders. LIPAD, on behalf of our consortium members Filinvest Development Corp, JG Summit Inc, Changi Airports International and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the DOTr under Secretary Arthur Tugade, and the BCDA, for their unwavering support and trust. Our partnership is truly as seamless as our passengers’ journey in this new terminal, and we are grateful”, said Ms Bi Yong Chungunco, LIPAD’s Chief Executive Officer.
With the start of operations at the new CRK terminal, more opportunities in the areas of employment, investment, tourism, and other socio-economic sectors are expected to open up, not only in Central Luzon, but in the rest of the country.
