Clark International Airport Corporation

Brief history

In 1902, Clark was established by the Americans and was formerly known as Fort Stotsenburg.

In 1917, the eastern portion of Fort Stotsenburg was converted into an airfield and was renamed Clark Air Field in 1919. In 1947, the first RP-US Military Bases Agreement was signed. This integrated Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg into the Clark Air Base.

In November 1991, the Clark Air Base was reverted back to the Philippine government.

RA 7227, also known as the Bases Conversion Act of 1992, created the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) as the implementing arm of the government to accelerate the conversion of the former Clark Military Reservation into the Clark Special Economic Zone, where Clark Development Corporation (CDC) became a subsidiary corporation of BCDA, and in turn, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) as a subsidiary of the CDC.

In April 2008, Executive Order 716 was issued, transforming the CIAC as a subsidiary of the BCDA.

Pursuant to EO 716, series of 2008, the Clark International Airport Corporation is tasked and mandated to develop, operate, manage and maintain the Clark Civil Aviation Complex.

The Clark Civil Aviation Complex, located within the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the biggest American military base outside the United States, covers an area of approximately 2,367 hectares with a 3,200-meter long runway and associated taxiways, aircraft parking apron, a passenger terminal building and related facilities.

Refocused thrust of CIAC

In the wake of the airport’s privatization is CIAC’s direction towards attaining long-held plans for the aviation complex to have a mixture of a world-class airport, cargo shipping facilities and a robust business and commercial hub—landside business development projects that will readily create revenue sources for the national government.

While the airport is operated and maintained by the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp., CIAC is now refocused to forge several strategic partnerships to further develop the remaining prime government land at the aviation complex for commercial use in the next two to three years.

The aviation complex is connected to Manila via the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway which is also linked to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway running up to Pozorrubio in Pangasinan. At present, the new Central Luzon Expressway connects Clark to Baler in Aurora and another road connectivity going to Zambales and Subic Bay Freeport. On top of this is the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway Project and the Manila-Clark railway which guarantees one-hour travel from Metro Manila to Clark.

By 2021, CIAC shall have commenced four vital components of the agency’s infrastructure expansion with a total budget of Php1.28-billion—a fairly sensible economic investment—approved via the General Appropriations Act of 2020 under the account of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). These projects include the new Air Traffic Control Tower for Php381 million, the upgrading of the Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) System at Php500 million, a new radar system amounting to Php300 million, and the construction of the Php100-million second runway in conformity with the CRK Master Plan.

Simultaneous to these infrastructure expansion projects, CIAC shall enter into bigger strategic commitments for on- and off-airport commercial development which shall include hotels, business offices and convention centers, parking bays, shopping malls, cultural and entertainment attractions, factories, research and development facilities, and air cargo, logistics and service industries.

These future investors and locators are expected to shore up the initial phase in establishing the ‘airport city’ around the new Clark International Airport passenger terminal building which will accommodate 8-million passengers annually and set to be completed by the second half of next year.

CRK’s primary runway (Runway 02R/20L) has a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 61 meters. It is fully equipped with all navigational aids and lighting facilities and has a Category 1 rating for precision approach. The airport is well equipped with a Terminal Radar Approach Control, Navigational Aids, Meteorological Equipment, Airfield Ground Lighting System and Crash, Fire and Rescue facilities.

CRK takes pride in its modern amenities complemented by airline support services such as Gate Gourmet, the world’s largest in-flight catering service provider; SIA Engineering Philippines, for Maintenance Repair Overhaul Facility; Lubwell Corporation, for into plane fuel service provider and Clark Airport Service Support Corporation (CASSC), for ground handling facility to name a few.

Meanwhile, the fervor in developing the aviation complex becomes more promising. The Philippines is now considered a key player in the region in aerospace industry as three of the world’s largest aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) providers are currently located in Clark—Singapore Engineering, Lufthansa Technik, and Hong Kong’s Metrojet Engineering.

To develop, manage and operate a competitive aviation complex while ensuring viability and creatung value for our stakeholders.

By 2028, CIAC shall shall be at the forefront in developing and managing an aerotropolis where robust and world-class industies thrive in a liveable and sustainable environment with the Clark International Airport as the premier gateway and the Clark Civil Aviation Complex as the key economic engine. .

Competence, Inclusivity, Adaptability, Commitment

Corporate objectives were developed and corporate targets were set guided by the vision, mission, and core values of CIAC. This is also based on the National Government's (NG) Eight Point Economic Agenda through the implementation of reforms for the acceleration of infrastructure development, which includes projects on rural development and airport modernization.

Given these positive indicators, CIAC's strategic dashboard and strategic initiatives have been geared towards the realization of the NG's socio-economic direction, as well as its vision to be a strategic enabler in establishing an aerotropolis by 2028.

Of the 2,367 hectares of CIAC land – that is the Clark Civil Aviation Complex (CCAC) – 759 hectares fall within the jurisdiction of the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation under its 25-year Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Concession Agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

CIAC; however, is directed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to assist and represent the latter in the discharge of its supervisory and oversight responsibilities over the entire CCAC, including the Clark International Airport (CRK), and consequently – LIPAD. Apart from the area dedicated for the CRK and for other locators under the project area of LIPAD, total of 1,608 hectares of land for development and for lease for aviation, aviation-related, and aviation-related logistics businesses. Within this 1,608-hectare land is the 167-hectare Clark Global City (CGC) and the Clark Gateway of FedEx – key drivers of economic growth within the region.

While the mandate of CIAC remains the same as stated in Executive Order 192, s. 1994 “to develop, operate, and manage the Clark Civil Aviation Complex (CCAC)” and further in Executive Order 14, s. 2016 where “CIAC shall engage in civil aviation, aviation-related services, and aviation-related logistics activities within the Clark Civil Aviation Complex (CCAC) and the Clark Industrial Estate (IE) 5 areas, as defined in EO No. 716.”, targets on increasing operational capability and capacity, enhancing organizational requirements and capability, and engaging stakeholders in the delivery of exceptional service are still intended to be realized by CY 2023.

The CY 2023 targets are thus planned and committed to ensure that management will address and/or act upon the issues faced by the organization, and to take action in the realization of the NG's directives through the strategic initiatives and action plans of the departments and offices for CY 2023.