Clark is proof that GMA keeps her SONA promises – exec

MANILA, Philippines – The Clark Freeport zone is proof that President Arroyo made good her promises during her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Benigno N. Ricafort said.

“My confidence in the President’s sincerity to fulfill her promises is anchored on the positive impacts that her previous SONAs have created inside the Clark Freeport,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said the goals Ms. Arroyo delivered in her 2007 SONA “have become a reality” citing various development and infrastructure projects completed and ongoing inside the Clark Freeport.

In her 2007 SONA, President Arroyo unveiled a plan to organize “Super Regions” composed of Mindanao, Central Philippines, North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway and the Cyber Corridor in a bid to “spread development away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila.”

Ricafort cited the completion of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) as “concrete proof” of the President’s determination to synergize Clark and Subic Freeports, “whose ‘spillover effect’ would complement the local economies of surrounding communities.”

He added that the opening of the SCTEx last year has created a huge impact on Clark, particularly on the Freeport’s investment, export and employment performance in 2008 and the present.

Ricafort said the CDC’s 2008 accomplishments reflected a $949 million gain in export output and realized P68.63 billion worth of actual investments. Employment also soared in December 2008 with an unprecedented 57,790 Clark workforce. In addition, taxes and duties contributed by Clark locators to the government amounted to almost P2 billion.

Ricafort said Mrs. Arroyo’s vision to create a world-class logistics and services hub north of Manila, which was also mentioned in her 2007 SONA, has made its mark in Clark.

Ricafort said the projects, which the CDC has tagged as its “new big investments in Clark,” include employment generated by business process outsourcing (BPO) industries here, the $1.5-billion investment from Texas Instruments, $100 million from Kuwait Gulf Link (KGL) company for its logistics park, and the $10 million for Singapore Airlines Engineering Co. and Cebu Pacific’s maintenance, repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility.

“Another vision congruent to that of the President’s is the Next Frontier project,” Ricafort said, adding that the Chief Executive had stressed on “opportunities for livelihood” as among her top priorities for the country.

“The Next Frontier will serve as the significant ‘strategic vision’ that serves as the template for similar challenges for other tribal lands of indigenous peoples of the Philippines,” Ricafort added.

“Investment in the area will not only bolster the President’s vision to transform Clark as the region’s logistics and services hub but also it will also provide employment to the Sacobia Valley’s residents – the Aetas,” Ricafort said.

The Next Frontier (Sacobia Sub-zone) covers an area of 10,680 hectares of which only 20 percent or 2,300 hectares, is projected to create some $5 billion worth of investments and 143,000 jobs. Infrastructure cost is estimated to reach P11.18 billion. The area is viable for commercial, light industries, and tourism projects.

“This area is the President’s solid contribution to the indigenous peoples with her recent success in issuing the Aeta’s Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT),” he added. The Sacobia Sub-zone has been the settlement site of the nomadic Tribung Ayta. The welfare of the Tribung Aytas has always been one of the major concerns of PGMA and CDC has been supportive of this thrust.

Ricafort will focus on livelihood, employment, and the provision of educational facilities for the younger generation of Tribung Aytas. “Education will transform to higher values the vision for the indigenous tribal aetas,” he said

Ricafort also said he is optimistic that the CDC’s Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) will increase after the state-owned firm resolved the buildable height limit issue through the assistance of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

He said the CAAP and the ICAO, in July 2009, had resolved the height restrictions set for the Clark Freeport which delayed several projects.

“This now allows the CDC to proceed with the processing of the 22 withheld construction projects after the CAAP and ICAO gave the green light for the construction of vertical structures in the western portion of the CFZ with the natural barriers providing the shielding effect” Ricafort said. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star