Duterte pitches Clark as next destination for business

CLARK FREEPORT — President Rodrigo Duterte has pushed for the development of Clark, calling it a “very important destination” for investments and residences amid his projection that Manila would be dead in 25 years.

“Clark is a very important destination now in the Philippines. For want of space, I would easily tell investors to go to Clark. The amenities and resources are here,” Mr. Duterte said on Thursday at the start of the celebration of the 446th founding anniversary of Pampanga province at the Asean Convention Center here.

Clark consists of the 4,440-hectare Clark Freeport and 28,479-ha Clark Special Economic Zone where the 9,500-ha New Clark City is located.

According to Mr. Duterte, Manila could not take in more factories. “Manila in about 25 years will be a dead city. It will start to decay and there is no way to rehabilitate the place,” he said.

“Manila is no longer an option for industries,” he said. They have to go to the provinces, among them Clark, he added.

“You [Kapampangans] are lucky. God is wise. He gave you lahar [volcanic sediments from Mt. Pinatubo] that you use for construction. Most importantly, you were given Clark for you to manage and make use of,” Mr. Duterte told a crowd of business leaders and officials. —Tonette Orejas