A major boost to disaster preparedness in Central Luzon is on the horizon, as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) prepares to build a Regional Disaster Response Command and Logistics Center within the Clark Aviation Capital complex.

Set on a one-hectare site inside the Clark Civil Aviation Complex managed by the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the new facility will enhance the region’s capacity to respond swiftly to emergencies and calamities by serving as a strategic storage and distribution hub for relief goods.

“We welcome this initiative as part of our commitment to national disaster preparedness,” said CIAC President Jojit Alcazar. “The center will allow faster, more efficient deployment of aid to affected communities throughout Central Luzon.”

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, and CDC Director Atty. Nicolette Henson-Hizon, conducted a site visit on July 2. They were joined by Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, PGENRO Chief Art Punsalan, and CIAC Director Rommel Santiago.

The project reinforces Clark’s growing reputation as a national disaster resilience hub. Alongside the upcoming DSWD facility, the Freeport is already home to key disaster and logistics institutions, including the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC), and the Integrated Operations Center for Disaster Response Management.

This planned logistics center also aligns with CIAC’s long-term strategy to develop Clark as a central logistics and disaster response corridor. Previous initiatives have already brought in facilities for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Pharma Procurement, Inc.

With its strategic location near Clark International Airport, seaports, and major highways, the Freeport is poised to become a critical lifeline for Central Luzon in times of disaster.