Clark Airport expansion to generate more jobs in Central Luzon -- Villanueva

Once the expansion of the Clark International Airport is completed next year, job opportunities will open up to Kapampangans and even residents of nearby provinces in Central Luzon, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.

Citing estimates by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Villanueva expressed optimism that the expanded airport will be able to provide fresh opportunities for workers in Central Luzon, with 200,000 expected jobs to be generated by the facility.

The estimated number of jobs pertain to both direct and indirect jobs that the airport would generate. Direct jobs refer to roles that have something to do with airport operations such as air traffic controllers, aircraft maintenance, among other jobs.

On the other hand, indirect jobs pertain to support services such as airport maintenance, groundskeeping, security, among other roles.

"We have always thrown our support for infrastructure projects such as this facility. Airports have a multiplier effect on the local economy, and we will be looking at giving more jobs to our kababayans here in Central Luzon without them having the need to set off somewhere else," Villanueva said at the sidelines of the site inspection event the BCDA organized on Wednesday.

Villanueva joined officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Finance (DOF) as they inspected the construction of the P9.6-billion facility which boosts by fourfold the current annual capacity of the airport to eight million passengers. The construction is targeted to be completed by first quarter of 2020.

The new passenger terminal building boasts of a world-class design that takes into account the facility's location in Central Luzon, where typhoons usually pass through every year. Its roof is designed to withstand a typhoon bearing strength of a Category 5 hurricane.

The airport is part of a massive development plan for North and Central Luzon, which also features two railway systems and the establishment of New Clark City.

The airport expansion project is the first hybrid project under the "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program of the government.

Under the hybrid scheme, the government will shell out funds to construct the facility to guarantee its delivery, and bid out the operations and maintenance contract to the private sector.

Villanueva further pointed out that with the project, other industries such as tourism stand to benefit in the completion of the airport expansion.

"We are also optimistic that the expanded airport reinforces the reputation of Clark Freeport as one of the prime investment destinations in Central Luzon. The airport boosts Clark's attractiveness to investors, and more investments generally lead to more jobs opportunities," Villanueva explained.