North of Manila, Clark International Airport is being readied for the future. The Clark International Airport Project (CIAP) is the fastest-paced infrastructure project being delivered by President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration under its “Build, Build, Build” initiative.
The project aims to drastically improve connectivity, drive new-urban economic growth, boost production, increase trade and create employment opportunities across the region.
The CIAP is expected to increase passenger capacity from 2 to 8 million people and will position Clark International Airport as the second major gateway to the Philippines. Once completed in 2020, the project is expected to contribute 0.2 percent to the Philippines’ economic growth.
By 2021 the Clark International Airport “city” will be Asia’s next “aero-tropolis” and a desirable destination for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE).
Currently the Philippines’ main airport in Manila is over-capacity and passengers are experiencing long waits. Increasing air passenger capacity is important for the country’s domestic and international tourism targets. By 2025 the CIAP is expected to contribute to increased domestic and international tourism demands by 3.7 percent and to tourism expenditure by 2 percent.
The tourism supply chain plays an important role in the Philippine economy. Through production links, supporting industries such as tourism, food and beverage, services, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing are expected to benefit from the CIAP.
The long-term vision is for Clarke International Airport to be more than simply a gateway. The CIAP is an entire regional improvement initiative and incorporates the development of rail infrastructure projects, including the Manila-Clark High-Speed Railway and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, to connect the airport to city centers. By 2025 the Philippines aims to significantly increase tourist arrivals and boost the country’s exports by 0.6 percent. The CIAP will contribute to economic growth and increase gross domestic product levels in the Philippines by up to 0.2 percent by 2020 and 0.5 percent by 2025.
As a major job creation catalyst, Clark International Airport is expected to create 150,000 new jobs in the Philippines (approximately 0.4 percent of the country’s total employed population). In the future, Clark International Airport will meet the demands of the country’s tourism sector while serving the region and the world.