Three major global logistics firms are in advanced talks for their expansion to make Clark their Asian hub, according to Bases Conversion Development Authority’s (BCDA) highest ranking official.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang told Manila Bulletin, “There are three of the major global logistics companies that will soon be announcing to make Clark their Asian hub.” He, however, refused to identify these firms because of the non-disclosure agreement. But he said that these giant logistics players have already signed a term sheet and memorandum of agreement.

Bingcang, who is also vice-chairman of BCDA subsidiary Clark International Airport Corp., expects to sign the three major contracts in the first quarter this year.

These strong interests followed after BCDA’s strong push to further develop the Clark as an “aerotropolis” providing a modern gateway.

Already, BCDA seeks to be able to provide more infrastructure facilities for the potential logistics locators. For instance, Bingcang pointed out that logistics firms need more aprons to park their planes.

He explained that Clark airport has aprons available for commercial passenger airlines. “They need more aprons to park their planes because for now our aprons are for commercial passenger airlines but there is not enough for logistics carriers,” he said.

Part of the development is the relocation of the Philippine Airforce, which currently occupies an area being designed as a future second runway. Bingcang also mentioned that this further airport development would need between P7 billion to P10 billion budget to make Clark a modern gateway in the country.

This makes the Philippine Airforce facility and the further development of the airport as BCDA’s major projects.

Already, BCDA is moving ahead with the relocation of the Philippine Airforce, which currently occupies a 300-hectare prime property in the Freeport, just across the major hotels and other tourism facilities.

Part of the relocation is for the Airforce’s housing facilities, which occupy a 100-hectare property, to be relocated to an 85-hectare area in the New Clark City just after the iconic rainbow bridge. The new housing facility will become a permanent housing for the Airforce personnel, he said.

The housing relocation will free up 100 hectares, which will be developed as future central business district of Clark.

In fact, the Department of Budget and Management has already released P700 million for the site development of the housing facility. An invitation to bid for the project is expected to be conducted within this month, he said. Site development is expected this year and construction next year.

The remaining 200 hectares of the Airforce’s area would be used as operational facilities and as a second runway. The design is still being finalized, he said.