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MANILA - The new passenger terminal currently being constructed at the Clark International Airport (CIA) can withstand a powerful earthquake, an official of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Tuesday.

BCDA president Vince Dizon told ANC's Headstart that the new airport building could withstand a temblor way above what the Building Code requires. The law requires buildings to be designed and built to withstand a quake of up to magnitude 8.4.

Dizon said the new terminal could resist the shaking of a quake as powerful as a magnitude 8.9.

"Not only is it going to be a strong airport but it's going to be a very beautiful airport," Dizon said on ANC's Headstart.

The Clark International Airport in the former US military base in Pampanga was damaged by the strong quake that hit Luzon on April 22.

• Clark International Airport shut down after quake damages terminal

It was shut down due to damage in its terminal but reopened in less than 48 hours.

Dizon said no damage was found on the terminal under construction after the quake.

"After the earthquake, we had it checked and [the quake had] no effect," said Dizon.

• New Clark terminal undamaged by quake, construction resumes: developer

Since it was safe and there was no quake damage, Dizon said construction resumed the following day.

The new terminal is now 60-percent complete. It is expected to be opened next year and will be operated by the private sector, he said.

"Were on schedule to open this airport by June of next year. After so many years, we can move to the new terminal and close down the old terminal and we have to build again a better one," he said.