NAIA and Clark: PH airport strategy to focus on both

MANILA, Philippines — Two main international airports — in Manila and Clark — will likely be pursued instead of just one.

This was according to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya who shared on Wednesday, May 29, that President Benigno Aquino III is now open to a twin, rather than a single, airport system to address the growing number of travelers, particularly tourists.

The plan involves the upgrade of the congested 30-year old Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila and the development the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. 

“President Aquino is now open to the dual airport system. Previously, his inclination was to go single wherein everybody goes to Clark,” Abaya said at a forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

Since 2010 and under 3 transportation secretaries under the Aquino administration, an airport strategy for the country’s main gateway — or gateways — was being studied.

“At this point, we are inclined to go with a dual gateway right away, meaning having both Clark and NAIA while already building a NAIA replacement. This is not yet final though, and we are due to discuss these options with the President soon so that we can come up with the final decision,” he stated in his speech.

The transportation chief pointed out that the government would not force airlines to transfer their operations to the Clark international airport under a single airport system.

The previous 3rd option of developing another airport outside Metro Manila has also been shelved, Abaya said.

He said that the ongoing upgrade and rehabilitation of the 30-year old NAIA terminal 1 (NAIA-1), as well as dealing with the structural and other issues besetting the half-used NAIA terminal 3 (NAIA-3), will be focused on.

Air travel has increasing by leaps and bounds as the Philippines target to increase tourist arrivals to 10 million by 2016 and as it prepares to host major events, including the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2014 and the ministerial meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2015. — Rappler.com