Clark International Airport (CRK) surpassed in 2017 its passenger volume record made five years ago, an official of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) said.
CIAC president Alexander Cauguiran said that from January to December 30, 2017, CRK registered more than 1.5 million passengers, surpassing its record of over 1.3 million passengers posted in 2012.
Cauguiran attributed the significant rise in passenger volume to the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to distribute development to the peripheries of Metro Manila, which was then made into reality by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“This achievement proves the high level of our public’s trust and confidence in President Duterte’s vision for a multiple gateway under the administration’s Build Build Build program,” Cauguiran said in a statement.
“Secretary Tugade, although very silent, worked very hard to turn the President’s vision into reality. That is why from only seven domestic flights a week in the previous years, we now have 200 international and domestic flights from Clark. All these happened in the first year of the Duterte administration,” he added.
To decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Tugade upon assuming office last year encouraged airlines to launch more flights from CRK and transferred some general aviation activities to Clark from NAIA. He likewise instructed CIAC to provide incentives to airline operators who will express willingness to fly out from CRK.
Apart from improvements in policy decisions, Cauguiran also observed that strict implementation of security measures by airport personnel, as well as improved customer service and increased passenger comfort and convenience, has also prompted travelers to flock to the facility that is envisioned to be a premier gateway to both local and international destinations.
Last December 20, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new CRK passenger terminal building.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon said that once completed, the CRK passenger terminal will be able to accommodate an additional eight million passengers per year, which will help to ease congestion at NAIA.
The new CRK terminal is the first hybrid project under the Build Build Build Infrastructure Program of the administration. Under this model, the government will establish the infrastructure using its own funds to ensure fast delivery of the project.
