EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 174 - DESIGNATION OF CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (CLARK FIELD) AS THE FUTURE SITE OF A PREMIER PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

WHEREAS, the recent IATA forecast indicates that more than 376 million emplanements (51.1% of world total) will be in the Asia-Pacific by the year 2010, a fourfold increase from 1990;

WHEREAS, Asian countries have already embarked on ambitious airport infrastructure development and expansion projects to alleviate congestion in airspace, runways and terminals, and to keep pace with rapid economic development;

WHEREAS, the conversion development program of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BASECON) for the former Clark Air Base revolves around the establishment of an international aviation comp that will involve the expansion of existing aviation facilities into world class and globally competitive standards;

WHEREAS, Clark Air Base with its existing runways and airport area of 2,200 hectares provides sufficient area for phased expansion to serve the air traffic demand of the 21st Century;

WHEREAS, with the Philippine Centennial celebrations scheduled at Clark by 1998, the airport comp must be operational by the fourth quarter of 1997;  

WHEREAS, the development of Clark Aviation Comp as a new international gateway to the Philippines, together with its accompanying expressway and mass-transit rail access systems will attract economic and tourism activities towards Central Luzon and the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle, thereby relieving Metro Manila of further increase in migration, congestion, pollution, traffic and other urban ills;

WHEREAS, the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) have committed the establishment of an international airport at Clark to its local and international lessors and investors;

WHEREAS, this new international airport is viewed by the international community, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific group, as a clear and loud signal that the Philippines is back in business;

WHEREAS, the national leadership is cognizant of the need to accelerate the development of the country’s international airports, and has envisioned the former Clark Air Base to be the site of a premier international airport, as well as of modern industrial area and a center for investment, tourism, trade and business for Luzon and Asia, as contemplated in Sec. 2.1.2 of Executive Order No. 62, Series of 1993;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

1. The designation of Clark Special Economic Zone (Clark Field) as the future site of a premier International Airport upon completion and development of the aviation comp situated therein which is now being undertaken by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BASECON) and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) conformably with the provisions of RA 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion Act of 1992;  

2. The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BASECON) and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) shall implement the phased development of the Clark Aviation Comp, together with its expressway and rail access systems in accordance with its Master Plan with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), and Philippine National
Railways (PNR).

Moreover, BASECON shall be tasked with the following:

a. Review and recommend to the President a Master Development Plan for the Clark Aviation Comp providing it with world class facilities and high service standards.

b. Recommend the organizational structure of a proposed Clark International Airport Corporation which shall have jurisdiction over the operations of the entire Clark Aviation Comp.

c. Formulate a comprehensive phased implementation program for Clark Airport Development Project in accordance with the Master Plan, and with an initial opening date capacity of 14 Million passengers by 1998.

d. Develop the Terms of Reference under public and private partnership for the construction and operation of the Clark Aviation Comp.

e. Recommend to the President other essential priority programs and infrastructure projects that will support the operations of Clark International Airport.

f. Require the assistance of other government agencies and enlist the support of the private sector for this undertaking.  

The funds necessary for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against the Budget of the Bases Conversion Development Authority and augmented if necessary, from the Contingent Fund authorized under the General Appropriations Act of 1994. This may also be augmented by foreign assistance grants to be sourced by the National Economic Development Authority, the Coordinating Council of the Philippine Assistance Program, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

Since 19.07.98.