Clark Freeport to strengthen its ICT capabilities

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) here is set to boost its information and communications technology (ICT) capabilities to make itself a smart and technology-focused investment destination.

CDC president Manuel Gaerlan, in a statement said he has already discussed with telecommunications service provider PLDT Inc. chief executive officer Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) various initiatives relative to this concern, in line with the vision to make Clark Freeport a “modern and sustainable aerotropolis and preferred meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific by 2030.”

He said PLDT is one of their most important partners that will “significantly contribute to making the Freeport a smart and technology-focused investment destination.”

The freeport hosts Clark Telecom — a subsidiary of PLDT — which is considered as one of the leading internet and telecom services providers in Clark even during the time when American troops ran their former US Airbase there.

PLDT rolled out the first 5G service in the country inside Clark in 2018, enabling the freeport to lay a foothold on reliable and extremely high speed internet with low latency connection.

In 2017, ePLDT also launched its  P1.3-billion Vitro Data Center Clark there. Based on the Telecom Industry Association’s IA-942 standards, the facility was the first rated-3 data center facility outside Metro Manila

Aside from internet and telecommunications services, the MVP Group of Companies has also poured in various investments and interests inside Clark Freeport, including  the Clark Electric Distribution Corporation (CEDC), e-PLDT, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF).