Gov't Pitches Clark Airport as Aerospace Centre

20 February 2024

The Philippine government is pitching Clark International Airport to be the next Asian hub for aerospace investments at the 2024 Singapore Airshow opening today, as it aims to attract potential investors for seven flagship projects in the country.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) said they sent delegations to Singapore and opening the Philippine Pavilion to convinced aerospace companies around the world to invest in Clark.

DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said they will be briefing investors on the successful bid for the US$3 billion NAIA O&M Contract, as it attracts them to other airport Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects across the country.

The DOTr will dangle during the meetings a menu of incentives that investors may secure from locating in Clark International Airport. Specifically, locators may be entitled to up to seven years of income tax holiday and a preferential tax rate of five percent afterward.

Meanwhile, the DOTr and Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) will pitch the viability of the Clark airport to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers.

“We’ve lined up seven flagship projects for the Clark International Airport Corporation alone. So we’re there to promote these projects, particularly the public-private partnership projects,” CIAC president and chief executive officer Arrey Perez said.

CIAC will market Clark to other airlines in the region to mount flights from the airport 80 kilometers north of Manila. Likewise, they will make a presentation before cargo operators in line with the goal of building in Clark the largest food trading hub in the Philippines.

Other projects include entertainment and events hub, urban renewal and conservation program, and logistics hub.

The Philippines Pavilion at the airshow is supported by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), and Berthaphil with the theme “One PH Aviation: Together We Fly”, to be held from Feb. 20 to 25 at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

Berthaphil Inc., one of the pioneer investors in the airport, said it will pitch its property projects at the airshow that will run until Feb. 25.

Berthaphil chairman Michael Herman said the company would also offer a vacant 10-hectare airfield at the Clark aviation complex that has access to the runway.