COA: Clark control tower project delayed 2 years amid design issues

The completion of the P316.43 million air traffic control tower and radar for the Clark International Airport was delayed by over two years due to design issues and other pending paperwork, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

In its annual audit of the state-run Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) for 2023, state auditors said that the Clark International Airport's 18-story air traffic control tower project had a completion target date of January 24, 2022.

However, its completion rate was just at 60.90% as of December 31, 2023.

“There were protracted delays in obtaining height clearance permits/exemptions and building permits from regulatory bodies for the project,” the COA said.

Aside from height clearance, state auditors identified the following reasons for the delay:

• pending submission of the Implementation Status of the Mitigating Actions for the construction of the New Air Traffic Control Tower by both CIAC and Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation, a special purpose company established to manage the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport;
• awaiting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines' (CAAP's) approval on the final aeronautical study and redesign of the 4-instrument flight Procedures before height clearance permit issuance; and
• pending issuance of the project's building permit by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) upon release of the Height Clearance Permit from CAAP.

“It bears stressing that the aforementioned issues were not adequately addressed during the preliminary design stage. Furthermore, complete detailed engineering procedures, which are essential prerequisites to ensure the feasibility and viability of the project, were not comprehensively conducted,” COA said.

The commission added that the project commenced even in the absence of a building permit from CDC, the regulatory authority within the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ), and that obtaining a building permit proved unattainable due to the absence of a Height Clearance Permit from the CAAP despite the persistent efforts of both the contractor and CIAC.

COA said the CDC did not permit conditional building permits and this could result in penalties due to non-compliance with the CDC's regulations within the CFZ.

The Clark International Airport’s new air traffic control tower, the state auditors said, is expected to resolve the existing line of sight issues and accommodate future developments at the Clark International Airport as outlined in the Aeroports de Paris lngenierie Master Plan.

In addition, the new control tower aims to establish an optimal operational environment for airways to conduct its air traffic control operations, ensuring controllers have maximum visibility.

In response to COA’s findings, the CIAC said its engineering department had assertively undertaken a thorough review and subsequent update of the procedural process concerning all future infrastructure projects since November 2023.

“The initiative has led to the identification and rectification of certain discrepancies previously present,” the CIAC told state auditors, as stated in the COA report.

Likewise, COA said the CIAC committed to undertake the recommended courses of action such as securing a building permit from the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for the construction of the new Clark Air Traffic Control tower upon the release of the height clearance permit from CAAP.

Similarly, COA said the CIAC promised that for all future infrastructure initiatives of the Corporation, construction would not commence without first obtaining a building permit to avoid the imposition of fines and penalties as outlined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the National Building Code of the Philippines (PD No. 1096). — DVM, GMA Integrated News