NEXT year’s hot air ballooning event at the New Clark City gets a shot in the arm from host Tarlac province. Tarlac Governor Susan Yap said that preparations are now underway to help ensure the success of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival (PIHABF) 2024 which will be held for the first time in Tarlac.<br><br>“We will be extending logistical support to the event, also in security, hosting and ushering,” Yap said in the Capampangan In Media (CAMI) Balitan forum, September 12. She said that major national and local roads leading to NCC will be opened in order to accommodate tourists that will flock the event slated on February 16-18 next year.<br><br>A representation, she said, was already made for the re-opening of the interchange that connects NCC to the SCTEX. On the one hand, the so-called ANAR (Airport to NCC Access Road) that links the sporting complex to the Clark International Airport via the unopened Clark iconic bridge will also be open to traffic.<br><br>The ANAR Road was supposed to have been opened by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last August 25 after rushing unfinished portions, she said.<br><br>Yap said the 3-day biggest aerosports event in the country is expected to draw revenues for Tarlac SMEs, thus, redound to economic benefits for local communities. “This is part of the overall plan to create events and stir up some economic activities for the province,” she said.<br><br>The event plan will be presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac by PIHABF headed by Captain Joy Roa. Yap made the announcement at Balitaan, a media forum of the Capampangan in Media, Inc. in cooperation with Clark Development Corporation.