Clark free port head tenders resignation

CLARK FREEPORT—The president and chief executive officer of Clark Development Corp. has resigned from the state-owned agency.

Levy Laus said Monday he had written President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo informing her of his intention to relinquish the post.

“It’s a polite way of saying I’m going back to the private sector to be able to help her administration in that respect,” Laus told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

The resignation, which should take effect on July 31, has not yet been accepted by the President, who appointed Laus almost two years ago.

Laus was compelled to confirm his resignation after Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin broke the news ahead of an official announcement by the CDC. The CDC is embroiled in a dispute over lease rates with Lazatin who has a business project at the free port.

Laus said he had no issues with Lazatin or other extraneous reasons for leaving CDC.

“I want my companies to take advantage of the gains and growth of the economy under the President,” Laus said in a statement.

Laus’ 30-year-old business group, the Laus Group of Companies, is pursuing several expansion projects.

It was during Laus’ stint that Clark became a free port from a special economic zone. Under his leadership, investments grew by 600 percent, due in part to the drawing into CDC of the semiconductor giant Texas Instruments. By Tonette Orejas - Inquirer Central Luzon Desk