The Big Lie

THE P360-million Passenger Terminal Building currently being constructed is expected to be fully completed by December of 2013 instead of the June 2014 deadline.

The new terminal is designed to accommodate 5 million passengers annually.

"The way things are going, the construction phase would be completed by December of this year, instead of the June 2014 deadline."

So we heard a triumphant Victor Jose “Chichos” Luciano, president-CEO of the Clark International Airport Corp. announced at the post-maiden flight press conference of Emirates Airlines Wednesday at Holiday Inn Resort Clark.

So Luciano’s announcement was duly reported in the subsequent press release from CIAC I received in my e-mail.

So we were wrong in claiming the Passenger Terminal Building – which still-under-construction photographs  we ran in a series in this paper’s front page – failed to meet its target of completion which we knew was September 30, 2013 or the day before the landing of the first Emirates flight to Clark from Dubai?

Why, just last September 20, I wrote here of the apprehension that the terminal construction would not meet its September 30 deadline, and all I heard from CIAC was that I spoiled Luciano’s day again. Nothing of me being wrong with the set deadline.  

Now Luciano would like us – and everyone – to believe that far from being delayed, the construction of the terminal was even ahead of schedule – six months ahead.

Luckily, we have the internet to prove the lie in Luciano’s announcement.

There never was any mention of a June 2014 deadline in press releases from CIAC prior to this October 2, 2013 announcement of Luciano. 

Exhibit 1:  Clark airport expansion starts May 15

By Reynaldo G. Navales

Sun-Star Pampanga - Friday, April 26, 2013

CLARK FREEPORT -- President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Jose I. Luciano of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) announced that the construction of the airport terminal expansion will start on May 15.

The government decided to set construction works at the passenger terminal two days after the mid-term polls to avoid the election ban.

According to Luciano, the project is expected to be completed by September, in time for the launching of new flights to Dubai by Emirates Airlines.

The existing terminal can only accommodate two million passengers annually. Luciano said the new passenger terminal expansion will boost its capacity to four to five million passengers yearly.

Luciano said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) had finally approved the budget for the expansion of Clark Terminal 1.

With the operations of low-cost carriers, CIAC expects passenger volume at the airport to reach two to five million this year, after the number hit 408,895 in the first quarter alone.

"We expect this to further increase as we are anticipating the start of the Emirates non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Clark and vice versa on October 1," Luciano said…

Exhibit 2: Clark airport posts 62% passenger volume hike

By Marna Dagumboy-Del Rosario

Headline Gitnang Luzon, posted April 25, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

CLARK FREEPORT–The passenger volume at the Clark International Airport (CRK) continued to surge in the first quarter of this year, with a growth of 62 percent in both international and domestic flights compared to the same period in 2012.

Clark International Airport Corporation President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano cited data that showed an increase of 408,895 in passengers from January to March of this year compared to the 252,163 passengers posted in the same period last year…

Luciano attributed the increase of passengers at Clark airport to the increase of international flights here.

“We expect this to further increase as we are anticipating the start of the Emirates’ non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Clark and vice versa on October 1, 2013,” he said.

Luciano said the Emirates alone will connect Clark to the rest of the Middle East and Europe that will bring in more tourists to the Philippines. Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines, will be utilizing their Boeing 777-300ERs aircraft with a passenger capacity of 437.

He said CIAC is preparing the construction of the P360 million Phase ll Expansion Project of the Passenger Terminal in time for the operations of Emirates this year. One aerobridge will be replaced with two-finger tube that will accommodate two aircraft at the same time.

The existing terminal can only accommodate 2 million passengers annually, while the new passenger terminal expansion will further boost its capacity to 4 to 5 million passengers annually.

The expansion project is expected to be completed by September 2013.

Clark Airport posted 1.3 million passengers in 2012, making it as one of the fastest growing airport in the country today.

Exhibit 3: Clark airport’s passengers up 62%

By Lailany P. Gomez

Manila Standard.com, posted on April 25, 2013 at 12:01am, 952 views

Passenger traffic at Clark International Airport in Pampanga increased 62 percent in the first quarter, with the addition of new international flights.

Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive Victor Jose Luciano said the number of passengers that arrived in and flew out of the Pampanga airport rose to 408,895 as of end-March from 252,163 passengers in the same period last year…

Luciano attributed the increase in Clark passengers to the addition of new international flights offered by most budget airlines.

“We expect this to further increase as we are anticipating the start of the Emirates non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Clark and vice versa on Oct. 1, 2013,” he said.

Luciano said Emirates would connect Clark to the rest of Middle East and Europe and would bring in more tourists to the Philippines. Emirates will use Boeing 777-300ERs aircraft with a passenger capacity of 437.

He said CIAC was preparing for the construction of the P360-million second phase of the expansion project of the passenger terminal in time for the operations of Emirates this year.

The airport is currently using one aerobridge which will be replaced with two-finger tube that will accommodate two aircraft at the same time.

The existing terminal can accommodate two million passengers annually, while the new passenger terminal will be able to handle 4 million to 5 million passengers annually.

The expansion project is expected to be completed by September this year.

Clark airport serves budget and legacy air carriers such as Air Asia Berhad of Malaysia, Air Asia Philippines, PAL Express, Seair-Tiger, Cebu Pacific Air, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines and Dragonair. .

All three stories in three different publications reporting the terminal project targeted to be completed September 2013! Failing to meet the deadline, Luciano out of his magic hat the June 2014 gambit in vain attempt to save face.

When actually, there was no need for it as the Emirates people were too bullish of Clark to notice. Or were they just being oh-so-diplomatic?