The CEO Magazine Asia — January 2018

leading priorities for the country. “I like that

the Duterte administration is doubling what

it’s spending on infrastructure in terms of the

percentage of GDP, compared with historical

spending levels,” Michael says. “Infrastructure

is really one of the things that we’re looking

to partner with, and to see how we can assist

with its development.”

The government is currently looking at

further expanding Clark International Airport,

GGDC’s long-term lessor, and is in the

middle of a tender for the new passenger

terminal. With an estimated cost of

PHP12.55 billion, it will increase the capacity

of the airport from 4.5 million to eight

million passengers a year. “It’s ultimately

a master plan that takes Clark International

Airport to three runways with the facilities

to accommodate 80 million passengers

a year,” notes Michael.

By thoroughly rejecting one ingrained

cultural norm, Michael hopes to harness the

country’s untapped economic potential,

motivated by a deep love for the Philippines,

a place that, according to him, “boasts some

of the most incredible people and beautiful

natural resources that can be found anywhere

on the planet”. Since moving to the country

seven years ago, Michael wants the country

to take notice of what’s happening at Clark.

“Look at the infrastructure we’re bringing

online. Look at the office space, and look at

the next-generation growth area for the

Philippines,” he says. “Just come and see.”

The Filipino attitude might now be

Halika at tingnan, or ‘Come and see.’

DUTERTE’S ‘BUILD, BUILD,

BUILD’ INITIATIVE

Much has been written about President

Rodrigo Duterte, most notably about

his controversial War on Drugs as well

as his general maverick nature. But

another major item on the Duterte

administration’s agenda is a significant

increase in infrastructure spending.

Known as Build, Build, Build, the

government is aiming to reach between

eight and nine trillion pesos in public

spending on all projects. It is also part of

Duterte’s much larger vision of reducing

poverty from 21.6 per cent in 2015 to

between 13 and 15 per cent by 2022.

According to GGDC President

Michael Russell, the main purpose

of ‘Build, Build, Build’ is really about

decongesting Manila, and it’s that from

which Global Gateway Clark is best

placed to benefit.

“If you look at it, just like Bonifacio

Global City was a relief valve for Makati,

there has to be a relief valve for Metro

Manila, with average daily commutes

of just a few kilometres now sometimes

stretching out to two hours each way.

That’s really how saturated, how far

beyond maximum density levels, Metro

Manila is,” Michael explains.

“Clark International Airport has

already undertaken its study. There is

some low-hanging fruit. There are nine

million passengers a year who should be

flying out of Clark International Airport,

but they’re having to fight five hours of

traffic to make it to NAIA [Ninoy Aquino

International Airport].”

“ Look at the infrastructure

we’re bringing online... Just come

and see.”

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