The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and airline stakeholders lauded the landing of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) in the third spot of the global survey among best airport zones in the world.
The survey was conducted by the London-based Financial Times Business Group and published in its July issue.
The Dubai Airport Free Zone topped the list while Morocco’s Tanger Free Zone landed in second place.
The Financial Times Business Group chose CIAC among the best airports in the world because of its sprawling area and good location.
The airport is in the middle of lush greens as it is only around 50 kilometers away from Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, the country’s breadbaskets.    
The Neda said the newest accolade received by Clark Freeport Zone only proves that its airport can become an extension of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Calls from various sectors have been reverberating to utilize the CIAC as NAIA extension so congestion at the international airport in Manila will be minimized.
One group that advocates the use of CIAC as alternative airport to NAIA is the Center for Strategic Initiatives (CSI), a private think tank whose members are businessmen, finance executives and former technocrats in the Ramos and Arroyo administrations.
“It’s very embarrassing when a tourist on board a plane wonders why the plane cannot land and the pilot already announced that they are about to land. The reason is the tarmac where the plane supposed to land is full. The plane needs to go to Maragondon in Cavite to kill time. That is the common problem at NAIA,” Renato Diaz, CSI president, explained to the Daily Tribune when contacted.
Diaz said it is a misconception that it is wrong to build an airport outside the country’s proper because almost all countries in the world do it.
Reports said London’s giant airport, Heathrow, will have an extension to be placed 75 kilometers outside London.
Beijing will also have an airport far from the city. Same thing with Narita, according to reports.
“So what’s wrong with NAIA having an extension 80 kilometers away?” Diaz asked.               
However, Neda deputy director general Rolando Tungpalan noted utilizing the CIAC as another international airport seems to be not on the radar of the public-private partnership as it is not on the list of projects intended for completion.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief operating officer Arnel Casanova lauded the placing of the CIAC as among the best airports in the world.
BCDA is the administrator of CIAC and the entity that covers it, the Clark Development Corp.
“The international recognition of one of the country’s Freeport zones and airports is an indication that the Philippines is making waves in the global market. We are on the right track,” Casanova said.