Marcos graces opening of new Clark airport building, cites importance of PPP

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the importance of partnership between the government and the private sector when it comes to infrastructure projects.

Marcos mentioned this as he graced the grand opening of the new terminal building of the Clark International Airport in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

Marcos said the project would not be a success without the partnership between the government and private companies.

"Ito 'yung aming laging pinag-uusapan na PPP (public-private partnership). How do we leverage the assets of the government, how do we leverage the assets of the private sector, how do we put it together and get the synergy out of it," Marcos said in his message.

"This is a perfect example of what government and the private sector can do. Makikita mo kung private sector lang ang gumawa nito, hindi nila kinaya. Kung gobyerno lang ang gumawa, hindi rin kinaya ito. (The private sector will not succeed if it is the only one who did this. Same as with the government.) And that is why this is a perfect example for that and I think it will serve to encourage other people to enter into these kinds of arrangements."

Marcos had earlier called on local government units to be open to PPPs as a mode of financing for projects.

PHL open for business

Aside from the importance of the PPP, Marcos said the opening of the new terminal would bring in more tourists to the Philippines as well as more businesses.

"Now, we have another facility, we have another airport kung saan makapasok ang mga turista, ang mga travelers. Not only the business, the business travelers, those who are working, those who are visiting the Philippines," Marcos said.

The new facility is a signal to the world that the Philippines is open for business and investments, according to Marcos. The openness of the Philippines to investments for its economic recovery was also emphasized during his working visit in the United States last week. 

"It is the message that we try to carry when we are in New York. Outside of the United Nations, we met with many businessmen, mga CEO, heads of corporations and the idea was to tell them we are willing to change in terms of documentations, procedure, even structure, even legislation to encourage you to come to the Philippines," said Marcos.

"This facility is a very strong signal that yes, indeed, we are open for business," he added.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, for his part, said the completion of the new terminal building is critical to the rebound of the country's air travel and tourism industry.

Bautista said this could be a wave of opportunities for Central and Northern Luzon, adding recovery of businesses is expected.  —KBK, GMA News