Balloon fest opens amid questions on subsidy use

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – The four-day 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta opened here yesterday amid questions on how the P3.5-million annual subsidy given by government-owned corporations to the project was being spent.

“This year, the Clark International Airport Corp. (did) not join the festival. We believe the project is not in focus with the priorities of CIAC which are to accelerate the development of the airport and woo more airlines to fly (to) Clark,” CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said in a text message to reporters.

CIAC operates the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, which is only several kilometers from the site of the balloon festival.

Last year, Luciano said the CIAC was a joint partner and that he was able to raise P5.5 million from sponsors, covering the P3.5-million subsidy given to Joi Roa, president of the foundation running the event.

The government-owned Clark Development Corp. has provided the foundation with a P3.5-million subsidy for the festival.

At a press conference, members of the Pampanga Press Club failed to get details on how the foundation had spent the subsidy it got from the CIAC and CDC in the past, but Roa gave assurance that they had given scholarships to some youths for aviation courses.

CDC president Benigno Ricafort justified the P3.5-million subsidy, saying the event promotes the Clark Freeport with more than 25 countries joining this year.