Friday, August 16, 2019

No worker displaced by consortium’s takeover of Clark airport

By TED CORDERO, GMA News

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) on Friday said that none of the airport’s workers lost their jobs after the consortium of Filinvest and JG Summit took over the air terminal's operations and maintenance (O&M).

“Technically no one was not absorbed by LIPAD,” CIAC president Jaime Melo told GMA News Online.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Bases Conversion Development Auhtority (BCDA) handed the certificate of notice to start O&M to Luzon International Premier Development Corp. (LIPAD).

LIPAD is the special purpose vehicle company established by the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) comprised of Gotianun-led Filinvest, Gokongwei's JG Summit, Changi Airport Philippines Pte. Ltd., and Philippine Airport Ground Solutions Inc.

The company will takeover the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport for a concession period of 25 years.

Melo said around 215 Clark airport workers were affected by the LIPAD takeover.

“The 215 were offered employment by LIPAD but only 178 accepted the offer,” the CIAC chief said.

“The difference of 37 opted to take other employment, go into business or retire,” Melo said.

The CIAC said all affected employees will be compensated by the company as per rules of the Department of Labor and Employment.

On the sidelines of the turnover ceremony, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said all affected Clark airport employees will be compensated.

“Separation or retirement pay... computed on the basis of one and a half months per year of service,” Tugade said.

Those absorbed by LIPAD availed of retire-hire option while those who opted not to be absorbed by the private company availed of separation pay.

Tugade said those who were not absorbed by LIPAD will receive their separation pay on Monday.

“Tapos ‘yung mga natanggap bayaran at the end of the year,” the Transportation chief said.

The P5.61-billion contract for the O&M of the airport was awarded to the consortium on December 19.

The project involves the operations and maintenance of the existing and the new passenger terminal buildings being constructed on the airport located in the Clark Special Economic and Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Clark airport O&M was dubbed as a "hybrid" Public Private Partnership, wherein the government takes over the construction of a project and private firms may bid for the O&M. —NB, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/704813/no-worker-displaced-by-consortium-s-takeover-of-clark-airport/story/

Clark Airport turned over to Changi venture with local conglomerates

The Clark International Airport in Pampanga province— the largest gateway in Central Luzon and an alternative to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport— was turned over to the private sector on Friday.

Luzon International Premier Airport Development (Lipad) Corp., a venture led by conglomerates JG Summit Holdings and Filinvest Development Corp. in partnership with a unit of Singapore’s Changi Airport, will operate Clark Airport for a period of 25 years.

“This is day one of Lipad O&M [operations and maintenance], the first public private partnership project awarded under the administration of President Duterte,” said Lipad president Bi Yong Chungunco during the turnover ceremonies.

She said the consortium will open new food and beverage outlets, including a Starbucks outlet within the month. Lipad is also in talks with the airlines to integrate terminal fees in the ticket price for more passenger convenience.

Lipad, which is the Filipino word for “fly,” will operate the existing passenger terminal in Clark Airport, a former United States air base.

A new terminal, which will at least double Clark Airport’s capacity to eight million passengers per year, will be turned over to Lipad by the middle of 2020.

“Now the Clark Airport will be in better hands, achieving greater heights,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Friday.

Upgrades at Clark Airport are being led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. These are part of the administration’s broader push to transform Clark into a new metropolis to decongest Metro Manila, about 100 kilometers away.

The Clark Airport anchors the 9,450 hectare New Clark City, which will house government and business districts, as well as a massive sports complex where the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be held. The DOTr is also building a railway system that will link Manila and the Clark Freeport Zone. /jpv

https://business.inquirer.net/276956/clark-airport-turned-over-to-changi-venture-with-local-conglomerates

Filinvest-led consortium takes over operations, maintenance of Clark airport

By TED CORDERO, GMA News

CLARK CITY, Pampanga - The consortium led by the Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings has officially taken over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Clark International Airport.

In a turnover ceremony, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Bases Conversion Development Auhtority (BCDA) handed the certificate of notice to start O&M to Luzon International Premier Development Corp. (LIPAD).

LIPAD is the special purpose vehicle company established by the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) comprised of Gotianun-led Filinvest, Gokongwei's JG Summit, Changi Airport Philippines Pte. Ltd., and Philippine Airport Ground Solutions Inc.

The company will takeover the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport for a concession period of 25 years.

The project involves the operations and maintenance of the existing and the new passenger terminal buildings being constructed on the airport located in the Clark Special Economic and Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The P5.61-billion contract for the O&M of the airport was awarded to the consortium on December 19.

The Clark airport was dubbed as a "hybrid" Public Private Partnership, wherein the government takes over the construction of a project and private firms may bid for the O&M.

"We thank the BCDA for the opportunity to create a new identity for Clark International Airport. We are working towards reinventing it to a world-class airport and meet the continued growth of international and domestic air travel," LIPAD chief executive officer Bi Yong Chungunco said.

"We envision Clark International Airport to become the country's premier gateway, by revolutionizing the way we travel and the way the world experiences the Philippines," Chungunco said.

To date, Clark airport covers 19 domestic and 12 international destinations serving 734 weekly flights from a total of 17 airlines.

LIPAD is working towards expanding the network of Clark airport to more domestic and international destinations, according to Chungunco. —NB, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/704789/filinvest-led-consortium-takes-over-operations-maintenance-of-clark-airport/story/

Lipad consortium takes over Clark airport

Lipad Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco (2nd from left)accepts from Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade a certificate of turnover. PHOTO BY TONETTE OREJAS

CLARK FREEPORT –– The Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (Lipad) consortium formally took over the operations and maintenance of the Clark International Airport (CRK) here on Friday.

Lipad Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco presented a new logo for CRK during a simple rite at the construction site.

The consortium consists of the Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc.

It shall operate the CRK for 25 years.

Chungunco said the 179 workers of the state-owned Clark International Airport Corp. are “all excited.”

The workers’ motion for reconsideration seeking security of tenure is pending with the Department of Labor and Employment.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said CRK is in “better hands” with Lipad.

The airport’s new passenger terminal would be operated in the middle of 2020, according to Vivencio Dizon, president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority./lzb

https://business.inquirer.net/276953/lipad-consortium-takes-over-clark-airport

SONA: Pagdadagdag ng linya ng tren, isa sa mga nakikita ng DOTr na solus...

P7.7-B road works seen easing MM traffic

NLEx Corp. is now implementing major road projects and improvements worth P7.7 billion to help alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila and key areas of the NLEx-SCTEx (North Luzon Expressway-Subic-Capas-Tarlac Expressway) network.

“A number of projects are simultaneously being implemented in our expressway network in order to ease traffic and prioritize the safety and convenience of our motorists,” according to NLEx Corp. President and General Manager J. Luigi Bautista.

The projects under construction include new interchanges such as the Tambubong northbound entry and southbound exit, Balagtas northbound entry, Bocaue River Bridge rehabilitation along
NLEx, Department of Public Works and Highway’s (DPWH) Ciudad de Victoria Interchange and new expressway lanes, and NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 C3-R10 Section.

These projects, which are being implemented by the DPWH and NLEx, are expected to provide efficient routes for transportation and help develop communities and businesses in Bulacan.
The DPWH acquires the rights-of-way and assumes other construction costs for these projects.

“The DPWH continuously supports road network expansion along NLEx to facilitate ease of travel, encourage economic growth, and improve public services,” DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino said.

The 600-meter NLEx Balagtas northbound entry is almost complete and will be opened to motorists within this month.

This new artery will provide direct access to motorists coming from Balagtas Interchange going to NLEx northbound.

At present, motorists headed for the north from Balagtas or Plaridel Bypass have to pass through local roads and enter NLEx northbound via Sta. Rita in Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Aside from this project, the construction of a new Tambubong Interchange is progressing well toward enhancing the Bulacan road network and helping lessen heavy traffic at the Bocaue Interchange.

Toll plazas at the southbound entry and northbound entry lanes will be constructed at Brangay Tambubong to serve as alternate routes for motorists bound for Pandi, Bulacan and nearby towns.

Also the first phase of Ciudad de Victoria Interchange near Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan has reached its halfway completion milestone.

The project involves the construction of two additional lanes along the existing Bocaue Municipal Road, a new 80-linear meter 2×2 lane bridge crossing the NLEx and the rehabilitation of the inner road of Philippine Arena for a total length of 1.93 kilometers.

This road segment will begin near the Bocaue Municipal Hall and will extend to Sta. Maria, Bulacan, bypassing the heavily congested Governor F. Halili Avenue in Bocaue.
The DPWH is also constructing an additional bridge at Bocaue Interchange to increase its capacity to two lanes per direction.

“With all these enhancements, we are hoping to raise the level of convenience and satisfaction of motorists traveling our expressways,” Bautista said.

Congressman Gavini Pancho of Bulacan’s Second District, who was instrumental in pushing for these road network improvements, noted that “these road projects will significantly contribute to the decongestion of our roads and will highly benefit the public, not only the BulakeƱos, but also those traveling [to and from] Central Luzon.”

https://www.manilatimes.net/p7-7-b-road-works-seen-easing-mm-traffic/600811/