Tugade: Train plan to link Clark, Metro Manila ready

CLARK FREEPORT—A railway plan for Clark International Airport (CRK), which is being considered as an alternate global gateway, is ready for presentation next month to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), according to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

The scheduled Neda presentation comes more than two months after President Duterte directed Tugade to ease air traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through measures that include the transfer of several domestic and international flights to CRK and the setting up of a train connection from the Naia in Pasay City.

Mr. Duterte also directed Tugade to put up a one-stop shop clearing house for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the airport.

“President Duterte has given us timelines,” Tugade said.

“He wants the train to Clark to be finished under his term. Building a train system cannot be rushed. Perhaps the construction may take three to four years. But at least the approval [from the President] to build the infrastructure is already there,” Tugade said during the launching of free Wi-Fi service at the CRK.

 Best interest

He said the Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking for an office space within the 2,370-hectare Clark Aviation Complex here.

The DOT has not decided which area the railway would connect, Tugade said. “It may be from Malolos [City in Bulacan] to Clark, or from Trinoma [mall in Quezon City] or from anywhere else. One thing is sure, Clark will be connected,” he said.

The final plan, he said, should be “in the best interest of the country and the government.”

The transfer of flights from Naia to CRK, though, is a matter best left to the airlines to decide, Tugade said.

CRK capacity

“I asked them to make a policy for missionary flights that I requested they provide in CRK. But we need to tie this up with the capacity of CRK to hold and handle airlines and flights that will come,” he said.

The one-stop shop for OFWs will be housed initially inside the Clark Polytechnic compound, while a building is being built for national agencies. Tugade said the provincial government of Pampanga is helping establish the one-stop-shop. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon