Ricafort to succeed Laus as CDC chief

CLARK FREEPORT -- The lobbying by different sectors and power brokers on who should sit at the helm of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) seems to be finally over.

Long-time CDC director Benigno Ricafort is set to succeed CDC president Liberato Laus, who will formally relinquish his post by the end of this month.

This was announced last Thursday by Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (Scadc) Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan before the start of the forum on the Scadc Mega Logistics Hub at the Fontana Convention Center here.

Laus informed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about his intention to leave his post in a letter he submitted to Malacañang in May this year.

Laus cited as reason for leaving CDC his desire to go back to his business and steer his companies in the direction of the country's growing economy under the Arroyo administration.

Pamintuan said President Arroyo has chosen Ricafort based on his experience and understanding of the internal workings inside the Freeport Zone.

"His familiarity with the Freeport will greatly help in the way he will lead and how he would be making his decisions," Pamintuan added.

Ricafort, who is among the old-time CDC directors, has been serving the state-owned corporation for 15 years under its seven presidents. As director, he had continuous liaison with the Bases Conservation and Development Authority (BCDA) and had active participation in overseas and local investments and promotion for Clark.

Ricafort said he will try to put a "stronger community image" for this Freeport.

"We will be looking at our corporate responsibility towards our immediate community. Within Clark, we are looking on the Sub Zone as the next area for future development here," he said.

Ricafort also hailed the efforts and achievements of Laus.

"He (Laus) did a good job and has left his own mark at CDC. The challenges that we will face now would be different from his," Ricafort added.

Laus reportedly favors Ricafort to succeed him to ensure the continuity of his programs for the Freeport.

Educated in the field of business and economics, Ricafort received his Bachelor of Science, Major in Finance at the San Beda College and his Master of Business Administration at St. John's University in New York. He also completed advanced courses on international trade in Germany, Japan and the Netherlands.

As a community servant, Ricafort figured prominently as the president of the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF), an organization of Kapampangans based outside of the province. He pioneered social works like the Walking Free Pampanga with the mission of making the province's amputees mobile again. KDF has also launched various social services missions targeting Kapampangan indigents. Activities of the organization are mostly composite efforts of other organizations through his vast networks.

Ricafort is set to take the helm of CDC as its eighth president. SunStar

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

Clark locators clarify stand on ‘ouster’ of CDC president

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga: The Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) claimed that it has “neither joined any group or issued any statement calling for the ouster of Clark Development Corp. [CDC] President Liberato Laus.”

CILA Chairwoman Teresa Bognot took exceptions to a banner story in a local daily newspaper that the organization had called for the ouster of Laus as president/CEO of CDC.

The said local tabloid published a story whose headline read, “Clark locators want Laus out.” The headline was followed up with “CDC not giving CILA ‘respect [it] deserves.’”

The articles quoted CILA President Jeannie del Rosario-Ng in a February 11, 2008 letter as saying that CILA “officially deplored what it called CDC’s ‘lack of respect for both foreign and local investors.’”

However, Bognot said CILA and Laus have threshed out prevailing “differences” between the organization and the CDC.

“We have our differences with the CDC but [these] have been discussed already during the meeting,” Bognot said referring to the consultative meeting held at the Red Crab Restaurant inside the Clark Freeport on February 19.

She clarified that while the article did not directly say that CILA called for Laus’s ouster this much was implied and mislead readers.

CILA accounts for at least 90 percent of employment, investment, and production inside the Clark Freeport with its more than 100 members.
--Mark Louie P. Roxas - Manila Times

Clark exec expresses gratitude to CDC officials, employees

Clark exec expresses gratitude to CDC officials, employees

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE - Clark Development Corporation president Liberato "Levy" Laus has expressed his appreciation to the officials and employees of the state-owned firm for their contributions in making this former United States military base an attractive investment and employment center.

During the CDC employees' Christmas party Saturday, Laus also thanked local officials, the senators and congressmen, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for their untiring support in making Clark and Freeport zone.

He said the firm's focus on the side of results and accomplishments was the key to the transformation of Clark into a stronger engine for economic growth, employment, and progress.

"I have been blessed to have been part of CDC. I might have some misgivings before I came into the picture. This time, I know better and I have only the highest admiration and respect for you, guys, for how you have performed to get the job done," he told CDC employees.

Laus thanked President Arroyo for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the interchange here. He said the CDC has been advocating for an interchange inside the freeport zone and that the President's decision to construct one here "is a welcome vindication of our consistent position."

In his message, Laus described Christmas as a celebration of God's goodness to all men giving meaning, hope and inspiration to life.

"Once upon a time, so we all love to recall, a simple Christmas party was held on a nondescript stable around a lowly manger where the lovely baby Jesus lay while Joseph and Mary sat by. There were angels and shepherds and, later on, three wise men. The glorious scene was both earthly and heavenly. There was giving and receiving, grace and gratitude, joy and peace," he said.