BY GENIVI FACTAO
[ manilatimes.net ] January 10, 2011
The Metro Pacific Group is prepared to tap a foreign group to conduct a feasibility study on the expansion of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) and the putting up of a modern railway system to connect the facility at Clark Freeport to Metro Manila.
Victor Jose I. Luciano, president and CEO of Clark International Airport Corp., said Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC), reiterated the group’s interest in developing DMIA into the second international air gateway after the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
"Pangilinan is fully supportive of the development of the DMIA. He wants to be in from the very start. This is a welcome development for the airport that will benefit not only Clark Freeport but the rest of the country," Luciano said.
Luciano said Pangilinan sees a railway link between Clark and Metro Manila as key in ensuring the viability of DMIA as an international gateway.
Luciano said the proposed high-speed railway will run in the middle of the North Luzon Expressway, which is managed by an MPIC subsidiary.
MPIC earlier said it was considering a joint venture with Ramon Ang, chairman of San Miguel Corp., for the Clark airport project.
Luciano said businessmen in Pampanga and Central Luzon welcomed the move of MPIC and SMC because they believe the development of the region hinges on the expansion of DMIA.
Luciano said Pangilinan reiterated his interest in DMIA during their meeting last week.
He said Pangilinan was accompanied by Smart Sports Marketing Division head Patrick Gregorio, Meralco basketball coach Ryan Gregorio, Bong Sta. Maria of Smart, and Lito Mercado, head of PLDT’s Clark Telecom Co. and current president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association.
Luciano added that Peregrine Development International is developing the Global Gateway Logistics City, which occupies at least 167 hectares of land inside Clark.
The company will set up a world class logistics park offering sites for warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing.
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