Clark investors to gov’t: Make up your mind

MANILA, Philippines – Will Clark be developed as the Philippines’ next premier international gateway?
Locators inside the Clark Freeport and special economic zone want the Aquino administration to decide now, saying their businesses have suffered due to the delay.
“It comes down to lost opportunities. [Investors] want to see further improvement by the government rather than constant changing of minds,” Jeff Pradhan, former president of the Clark Investors and Locators Association said in a media briefing.
The government has long planned to develop the airport (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) inside the former US military base as a major international gateway, next to the crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Companies banking on this promise set up investments in Clark.
Pradhan cited for instance Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Metrojet Engineering Clark. Singapore Airlines through SIA Engineering tied up with Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific in 2008 for a hangar and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, and spent P1 billion in 2010 to establish a second hangar. Metrojet also put up a $40-million MRO facility to cater to corporate jets.
“They (government) have not made up their minds and that is the problem,” said Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) adviser Capt. Benjamin Solis.
Solis urged the government to act quickly on the airport as NAIA has exceeded capacity—both on its terminal and runway—by 40%.
High-speed rail
Government began to waiver on its plan for Clark late 2012, saying there are a lot of conditions for it to be viable. One of them is the construction of a high-speed rail system that will connect Clark to Manila.
Clark is about 80 kilometers away from the capital. Metro passengers taking budget airline flights in Clark travel via buses or private cars that take the North Luzon expressway.
The China-funded NorthRail project, which was meant to speedily move passengers that distance, was dropped.
The project was negotiated under the Arroyo administration. It was suspended in March 2010 pending review due to alleged anomalies such as bloated costs.
In February 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the project was illegal because it did not go through bidding process.
The government tried to renegotiate the project, including costs and design, but it became uncertain following heightened territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.
Even if the project was dropped, the Philippines is paying a portion of a Chinese loan worth $185 million until 2014 to avoid affecting its chances of getting investment grade status.
Distance ‘irrelevant’
Solis however said distance between Clark and Manila should not be an issue as airports in other countries are located outside cities, away from central business districts.
“Distance is irrelevant, it is a flexible item. In other countries, all airports are far from the city. NAIA is an old airport in a large city with no other gateway and yet Clark is still not a viable option,” he lamented.
Solis said the government should speed up the development of the Pampanga airport by adopting a twin airport system wherein the Clark would co-exist with NAIA.
Terminal project
Passengers at the Clark airport are expected to hit 2.4 million each year starting 2013. The airport could only handle up to 1.2 million at end-2012, Transportation Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco earlier said.
The Transportation and Communications department is assisting CIAC in its plan to construct a new terminal at the airport that will serve 15 million passengers a year.
Solis said CIAC would present the P6-billion project to the National Economic and Development Authority in March.
He said the terminal is crucial especially with the start of the Dubai-Clark operations of Emirates and AirAisa’s ongoing expansion.
According to him, the proposed passenger terminal project could be offered under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership scheme because several private corporations are interested in the development.
Based on the land-use plan, he said about 30 hectares of the 2,400-hectare airport property could be used for commercial development. – Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/business/22254-clark-investors-to-gov%E2%80%99t-make-up-your-mind

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

This is one of the frequently visited places for wine lovers from Manila and Angeles City to buy international wines in Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com