Clark airport operator offers old terminal as vaccination facility

The private operator of Clark International Airport is offering the gateway’s old terminal to be used by the government as a mass COVID-19 vaccination facility after the formal turn over of its new passenger terminal building.

Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. is targeting to make the new passenger terminal building, built by Megawide-GMR, operational by July this year.

"While we look forward to travel, returning with a vengeance and working towards the operationalization of the new terminal, we thought long and hard. What are we going to do with the existing terminal when we move to this terminal?" LIPAD CEO Bi Yong Chungunco said.

"Similar to our support in bringing home our kababayans, we are committed to offer the existing terminal to be used as a mass vaccination facility," she said.

In a ceremony, Megawide-GMR handed over the newly completed passenger terminal of Clark International Airport to LIPAD.

LIPAD was awarded the 25-year concession agreement for the operations and maintenance of the Clark International Airport.

It is the consortium of Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pt. Ltd.

Chungunco said the old terminal, with a floor area of 25,000 square meters, can accommodate 10,000 vaccinees per day.

"Because what can be more perfect than having Clark International Airport as a vaccine hub and have a vaccination center right next door," she said.

"Imagine, vaccines arriving, unloading. In five minutes, they will be in cold storage, controlled temperature. And when you need the vaccines, in five minutes, they will be in the vaccination center," she added.—AOL, GMA News