CDC: Hot air balloon fiesta signature event of Clark

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2017/01/13/cdc-hot-air-balloon-fiesta-signature-event-clark-519962
• Saturday, January 14, 2017

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) considers the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) as a signature event of Clark Freeport.

Noel Tulabut, CDC Communications Department manager, said the sports aviation event brings in not just tourists but economic benefits for Clark and its surrounding communities.

Tulabut issued the statement following reports that the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark in 2017 may be the last.

“While reality tells us that there is indeed a need to move it (hot air balloon fiesta) out of the [civil] aviation complex eventually, CDC is open to discussions to [transfer] the event somewhere else inside Clark,” Tulabut said.

Clark Freeport and Clark Special Economic Zone has a “vast space practically for a lot of business endeavors and attractions,” he added.

The three-year memorandum of agreement signed in 2014 by the CDC, PIHABF Foundation and Clark International Airport Corporation will expire this year.

CIAC President Alexander Cauguiran earlier said that he will recommend that the next balloon festival be held outside Clark because of the increasing number of flights at the Clark International Airport (CRK).

Cauguiran said that this is in line with the government’s push for the immediate development and utilization of Clark airport.

The increased commercial flights at the CRK will result to limited window of hours that hot air balloons may fly around the Freeport.

During a press conference at Oasis Hotel in nearby Angeles City on Thursday, PIHABF Foundation President Captain Joy Roa said that this year’s event will be held at the Omni Aviation area at the eastern side of the Clark airport runway.

This was due to the new restrictions issued by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the former venue of the festival, according to Roa, who disclosed that they were initially asked to move the event to the airport.

But moving to the airport is not easy because of the increasing operations and developments inside the airport.

He cited the ongoing construction of a hangar and Maintenance Repair and Overhauling (MRO) facility at the approach of Clark airport’s secondary runway which was used by aircraft and balloons during the past festivals.

Roa said that some 28 balloons from the Philippines and other countries will participate in this year's event.

Businessman Rene Romero, who accompanied Roa during the press conference, asked the help of the local media to support the event which he said has been helping Clark and adjacent communities in terms of tourism and economic activities.