Newsletter_Sept-Oct 2011 Save PDF - Philippines Bases ...

In the News
BCDA wrote Secretary Roxas to map out its plans
and strategies for major infrastructures under BCDA’s
ownership and mandate such as the Clark International
Airport. A coordination meeting was held in September
with DOTC Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco, where BCDA
coordinated and requested DOTC to provide the milestones
in delivering the Clark International Airport Gateway
Terminals and for DOTC to chart the policy and regulatory
framework for the development of the Philippine aviation
industry.
In an unprecedented move and a show of corporate
solidarity, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC)
and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) supported
the initiative for the BCDA to spearhead the construction and
development of the Clark International Airport. CIAC will
focus on its expertise in operating the airport and attracting
airlines to move to Clark thereby creating the traffic demand
while BCDA shall build the infrastructure using its legal
mandate, experienced team of engineers, and financial
capacity.
and singular focus in delivering the infrastructure which our
country needs for a long time,” Casanova stated.
Casanova said the BCDA has the legal authority,
core competence and the financial capability to undertake a
mega utility project such as the expansion and development
of the Clark International Airport pursuant to its mandate
under R.A. 7227.
Casanova emphasized that the BCDA owns the
properties and assets of the CIAC and CDC which gives it
legal authority to undertake the development of the airport.
“The CDC and the CIAC are 100 percent subsidiaries of the
BCDA,” he said.
He said the BCDA has proven its competence with
its track record of delivering to government the world-class
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and succesfully
concluding a public-private partnership agreement with the
Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) for its operation
and maintenance. It has also successfully developed the
former Fort Bonifacio now Bonifacio Global City
and the former Villamor Airbase, now Newport City.
Casanova pointed out that the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) considers
the SCTEX as a model Official Development
Assistance (ODA) project. He added that the
operations of the SCTEX, which has been turned
over to the private sector—the Manila North
Tollways Corporation (MNTC)—is also a model
public-private-partnership agreement.
“We undertook most of our development
projects via public-private
partnership (PPP),” Casanova said.
“BCDA has the financial muscle to
fund big ticket projects,” he added.
“We welcome the resolution
passed by the CIAC Board for
the BCDA to take the lead in
the development of the Clark
International Airport while the CDC
Board, on the other hand supported
the move,” Casanova said. He added
that the BCDA Board accepted the
task to fulfill its mandate. This brings
the two BCDA subsidiaries united
under BCDA’s wings.
“The only way to build this
vital airport terminal is through
teamwork and leveraging on each
other strengths. We want to be
a team under the guidance and
leadership of Sec. Roxas. We have
a very short window to make this
happen and we want to do it now with the unity of purpose
“Moreover, we want to show
that the Filipinos are capable
of implementing projects with
transparency, integrity, quality,
at the best cost and on time
which is doable under the Aquino
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , ” C a s a n o v a
emphasized.
He remarked that the development
of the airport would be through
PPP as well and will commence
within the term of President Aquino
given the urgency for a world-class
airport.
The development of the Clark
International Airport is expected
to boost the country’s economy
with increased tourist arrivals and
the creation of more investment
opportunities and employment.
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