OATHTAKING. Former president and House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left) takes her oath of office as the newly appointed Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Projects before Barangay Captain Joseph Mahusay of Pansol, Quezon City on Thursday (Nov. 26, 2020). In her appointment letter dated November 24, Arroyo is set to be compensated PHP1 per annum. (Contributed photo)
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has been appointed as Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Projects, has asked the government, business movers, and shakers to turn Clark into Asia's economic hub.
“Let us join hands with government and business movers and shakers to turn Clark into Asia’s economic powerhouse in the 2020s,” Arroyo said in a statement on Friday.
She said rapid harnessing of the Clark-Subic service logistics corridor for jobs and investment is indispensable to national recovery.
Arroyo said she was grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust.
“This is an immense undertaking that was one of my priority thrusts during my presidency, and I am grateful to President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust in empowering me to provide advice on this economy-boosting initiative once more,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) thanked Duterte for Arroyo’s appointment.
“With former president Arroyo’s stature before the international community, honored leadership, and clear and comprehensive vision for the country’s bases development, Clark Freeport Zone will be greatly benefitted and will be propelled to be a modern aerotropolis and a major business and economic hub it has been envisioned to be,” the CDC said in its statement.
An aerotropolis is defined as "an urban sub-region whose infrastructure, land-use, and economy are centred on an airport."
It said with Arroyo’s able guidance and economic expertise, Clark would be able to complete legacy projects that would benefit not only Central Luzon but the entire country as well.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) likewise welcomed Arroyo’s appointment.
“Her wisdom and gravitas will be invaluable in making the vision of Clark as the next premier metropolis of Asia a reality," the BCDA said in its statement.
Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo, who chairs the Metro Clark Advisory Council, said “her (Arroyo’s) kabalens are extremely happy knowing that her wisdom and compassion would complement the vision of Clark and its neighboring local government units.”
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said Arroyo would further develop the potential of the Clark Freeport Zone as a major growth corridor in Southeast Asia.
Lazatin credited Arroyo for the development of the growth corridor in Central Luzon comprising the international airport of the Clark Freeport Zone and the deep-sea port of Subic Freeport Zone.
“One of the lingering legacies of Arroyo was the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) that linked the growth centers of Clark and Subic,” he said.
Under the Arroyo administration, he said the government successfully negotiated increased seat entitlements with various countries that enabled the Clark International Airport to allow the entry of more local and foreign airlines.
“This ongoing development in the Philippines aviation sector is still being felt up to this day with the entry of foreign airline operators in Clark, such as Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways,” Lazatin added.
Key components of the government’s economic development, such as the establishment of road networks, airports, seaports, and farm-to-market roads had been put in place in areas encompassing the Clark Freeport Zone and Subic Freeport Zone. (PNA)
