New Clark City | |
---|---|
Motto: City of the Sports | |
Coordinates: 15°20′40″N120°31′48″E / 15.34444°N 120.53000°E | |
Country | Philippines |
Region | Central Luzon |
Province | Tarlac |
Municipality | Bamban Capas |
Economic zone | Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone |
Managing entity | Bases Conversion and Development Authority |
Area | |
• Total | 94.50 km2 (36.49 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 800 m (2,600 ft) |
Lowest elevation | 54 m (177 ft) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
Website | www |
New Clark City is a planned community currently undergoing development, owned and managed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). [1] It is located within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in the municipalities of Bamban and Capas in Tarlac, Philippines. [2] It covers an area of approximately 9,450 hectares (23,400 acres) and is designed to accommodate up to 1.2 million people.
New Clark City, initially known as Clark Green City was first planned, designed and founded by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) under the administration of then-BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova in 2012. The then-proposal was met with skepticism from some high-ranking government officials due to the development's proposed location being remote. Casanova envisioned a new metropolis north of Metro Manila to be the first green and smart metropolis of the country. Casanova was moved to build the new city as a response to the challenges of climate change which placed Metro Manila and many Philippine coastal cities at risk. This was witnessed in the massive floods in Metro Manila during Typhoon Ketsana in 2009 and the destruction of Tacloban City during Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. The imminent threats of climate change made the movement of new communities to higher and safer ground. This will be a development with numerous parks and wide and tree-shaded pedestrian lanes with the application of innovative technologies to run the city. It was also a response to the hellish gridlock that Metro Manila has been experiencing and the imperative of making mobility better and dignified for citizens. He also envisioned the development to be free of gated communities to discourage heavy traffic. [3]
The BCDA held a design competition for the master conceptual development plan for Clark Green City with AECOM coming up with the winning design in 2015. Members of the screening committee included notable local and international urban planners and designers such as: Andrea Dorotan and Paul Letana of Bases Conversion Development Authority; Jezreel Apelar of Urban Land Institute; Julia Nebrija of World Bank; Grace Ramos of the University of the Philippines; Stephen Gray of Harvard University, Fadi Masoud of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, Mary Anne Ocampo of international design firm Sasaki. [4]
The city was officially founded on April 11, 2016 with the late President Aquino and Casanova breaking ground and leading the ceremonies and attended by international and local dignitaries and business leaders. [5]
During Casanova's term, overall masterplan development plan was completed by BCDA. In laying the foundation for the city, he led the influx of businesses, educational and government institutions and global linkages with credible partners in development. BCDA signed a 50-year contract with Filinvest to develop the 288 hectares (710 acres) of land allocated for the project. [6] BCDA also managed to forge partnership with foreign firms to develop Clark Green City such as Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. which plans to connect Clark Green City to Manila as well as surrounding cities by rail, and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute which will assist the BCDA to come up with "smart and disaster-resilient" features for the planned community. An agreement was also signed between Paris-based Vivapolis. [7] [8]
To build the human capital of the new city, Casanova caused the donation by BCDA of 70 hectares of land for the new University of the Philippines campus, a 40 hectare property for the Technological University of the Philippines and the 20 hectares for the Philippine Science High School. He also sent to Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, 100 scholars including mayors and town planners of the towns surrounding the new city as well as BCDA core team for training on green city planning and governance under the auspices of the Temasek Foundation. [9] He also initiated talks with the Rungis Market of France for an Asian food logistics hub in Clark Green City to ensure food security in the country and to connect Philippine farmers to the global market. He also led the investment of BCDA for the Luzon Bypass Line with the Department of Communications and Information Technology (then ICTO) and Facebook in exchange for 2tpbs bandwidth to provide fast and free internet access to all government offices, schools and parks and to spark the movement of technopreneurs in the country.
To strengthen further the government support, Casanova sought the official support of the Philippine Congress. In March 2015, the Philippine Congress approved House Resolution 116 in support of Clark Green City. [10]
After Casanova's tenure in BCDA ended, he joined AECOM as the firm's representative in the Philippines. [3]
The groundbreaking rites for New Clark City, led by then-President Benigno Aquino III was made on April 11, 2016. [11] The development became one of the flagship projects of President Rodrigo Duterte, the succeeding President. [12] Under the leadership of BCDA President Vince Dizon, the New Clark City entered development. In March 2018, the development of Phase 1-A of the National Government Administrative Center which consists of the New Clark City Sports Hub began and would serve as one of the venues to the country's hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The sports facilities were completed in record time for the games. [13] [14]
In July 2020, the BCDA and the Department of Agriculture unveiled plans to put up an Agro-Industrial Hub in New Clark City aimed to support farming communities, and strengthen food security in Luzon. [15]
The BCDA in September 2020 signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Embassy Manila for the design of NCC Central Park, as well as an affordable housing project in the new metropolis. A symbolic marker was unveiled in July 2021 at New Clark City by BCDA and the British Embassy Manila to ceremonially lay the foundation of the central park. [16]
After the Completion of NCC, BCDA will Manage it, and it will administered in Angeles City as part of Clark Special Economic Zone.
Initially named "Clark Green City," the planned city was renamed to the present "New Clark City" during President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.
New Clark City spans an area of 9,450 hectares (23,400 acres) and is located within the former U.S. military base of Camp O'Donnell. [17] The development is located in the municipalities of Capas and Bamban, Tarlac province [2] although it is administered from Angeles City as part of the Clark Special Economic Zone. [18]
The development is not a flood-prone area with its minimum elevation being at 54 metres (177 ft) above sea level [19] and its planned central park also serves as a flood catchment basin. The Sierra Madre mountain range is located on the development's east while the Zambales mountain range is located on the west, with both geographical features providing New Clark City a natural protection from typhoons. [11] The maximum elevation of New Clark City is at around 800 metres (2,600 ft). [19]
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has assessed the area to be relatively less prone to earthquakes. [19]
The Capas National Shrine , a memorial for Allied soldiers who perished at the Bataan Death March during World War II, is located at the entrance of the development. The site was a former concentration camp during the war. [20] [21] The New Clark City Central Park, a 44.8-hectare urban park, is planned to be located in the heart of the metropolis. [16]
Aside from the two major parks, BCDA plans to allocate portions of NCC for green spaces. Out of 9,450 hectares of the city, only 3,500 hectares will be developed, leaving the rest for green and open spaces, making it a green city. [3]
New Clark City is divided into various districts depending on primary function. [17] As of 2022, there are three areas in the city with sizable on-going development.
The National Government Administrative Center (NGAC), a 200-hectare (490-acre) mixed-used development, hosts facilities and offices for the Philippine government. Located inside NGAC is the Integrated Operations and Disaster Recovery Center, intended to be backup operations center for the national government in case the capital Manila is incapacitated by disasters, and includes a satellite office of the Office of the President of the Philippines. [22] [23]
The New Clark City Sports Hub, located within the NGAC, contains an athletes' village for accommodation, an aquatics center, and the 20,000-seater New Clark City Athletics Stadium. It will also house the Olympic Museum by the Philippine Olympic Committee. [24]
New Clark City was one of the host cities of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which took place all over Luzon. The closing ceremony was held in the Athletics Stadium. [25] These facilities were also to be used as the venues for the aquatics and athletics events in the 2020 ASEAN Para Games, [26] before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2019, BCDA, the Asian Swimming Federation, Philippine Swimming and Philippine Sports Commission signed a partnership agreement for the country's hosting of the 2020 Asian Swimming Championships which will be held in New Clark City. [27] [28]
In June 2021, in a lead up to the 2021 PFL Season, United City F.C. announced that it has adopted New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac as its home locality. It also has entered a partnership with the local government of Pampanga.
Filinvest New Clark City is a mixed-use and industrial district being developed under a joint venture agreement between BCDA and Filinvest Land. Covering a 288-hectare portion of NCC, the district will include the Innovation Park, a business hub which will host warehouse and factory facilities for logistics, e-commerce, light manufacturing, and data center operations of local and international businesses, [29] including the StB Giga Factory, Filinvest Innovation Park, Phase 1, the first Philippine lithium iron phosphate battery manufacturing plant. [30]
450-hectare will be developed into a luxury mountain resort by Hann Development Corporation in collaboration with Accor, Marriott International, and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). The resort will feature three 18-hole championship golf courses and PGA-affiliated player development facilities, hotels by Banyan Tree, Angsana, Sofitel, Emblems, The Luxury Collection, and The Westin, as well as a mixed-use commercial center, and a 10-hectare public park. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 5, 2022. [31]
The following institutions and agencies have either moved their operations, completely or partially, or have recently been established and constructed their first offices and facilities in New Clark City.
New Clark City is connected to other areas in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone through the Clark Loop, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system serving NCC, Clark International Airport, and other developments in the economic zone. [42] It was opened in time for the 30th Southeast Asian Games. [43]
The Philippine National Railways' North–South Commuter Railway will connect NCC to Metro Manila through the future New Clark City NSCR Station.
New Clark City will also be served by the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway and Central Luzon Link Expressway specifically through the 6.98 km (4.34 mi) six-lane New Clark City-Mac Arthur Access Road which will connect the NCC to MacArthur Highway. [44]
In 2023, the BCDA The signed a memorandum of agreement with Japan-based Zenmov, Inc. and Philippine-based MC Metro Transport Operation, Inc. for a demonstration of an energy-efficient and smart public transportation system that will run within New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac and the rest of Clark Special Economic Zone. [45] [46] In September, 2024, the country's first smart autonomous self-driving bus which uses Smart mobility Operation Cloud was launched in NCC. It will run thereat, Clark Freeport Zone and Clark International Airport. [47]
Clark International Airport — known as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport from 2003 to 2014 — is an international airport covering portions of the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. It is located 80 kilometers (50 mi) northwest of Manila. It is accessible by way of the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
Bonifacio Global City is a central business district and major financial hub located in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) southeast of the capital city of Manila. The district experienced commercial growth following the sale of a 440 ha military base at Fort Bonifacio by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). The entire district used to be the part of the main Philippine Army camp.
The Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, often shortened as Subic Bay or Subic, is a special economic zone and freeport area covering portions of the city of Olongapo and the town of Subic in Zambales, and the towns of Hermosa and Morong in Bataan in the Philippines. The relatively developed and fenced area is called the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).
The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), signed as E1 and E4 of the Philippine expressway network, is a controlled-access toll expressway in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. From its northern terminus in Tarlac City to its southern terminus at Tipo in Dinalupihan, Bataan, the SCTEX serves as one of the main expressways in Luzon. The expressway is also connected to the Central Luzon Link Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway, and the Subic Freeport Expressway. The SCTEX is the country's longest expressway at 93.77 kilometers (58.27 mi) until the completion of Toll Road 4 of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway was constructed to provide a more efficient transport corridor between Subic Bay Freeport, Clark, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac, foster development on the municipalities served, and connect major infrastructures such as the Subic Seaport and Clark International Airport.
Fort Andres Bonifacio is the site of the national headquarters of the Philippine Army located in Taguig City, Philippines. The camp is named after Andres Bonifacio, the revolutionary leader of the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution.
Clark, officially known as the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFEZ), refers to an area in Central Luzon, Philippines.
Philippines–United Kingdom relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Formal diplomatic relations were established between the two countries on 4 July 1946. Relations between the two countries are cordial.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority is a government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President of the Philippines. It is a government instrumentality vested with corporate powers under Republic Act 7227, signed into law by former President Corazon C. Aquino on March 13, 1992. The BCDA Charter was as amended by RA 7917 in 1995, and further amended by RA 9400 in 2007. The corporation is mandated to transform former US military bases into alternative productive civilian use.
The New Clark City Sports Hub or the New Clark City Sports Complex is a complex of sports facilities located inside the National Government Administrative Center of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
The National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) is a 200-hectare (490-acre) mixed-used development situated in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. It will primarily host facilities for the Philippine government such as offices of various government agencies, government housing units, sport facilities and other support services facilities. The area is owned and managed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
Expressway 1 (E1) forms part of the Philippine expressway network. It runs through western Luzon from Quezon City in the south to Rosario in the north.
The Bonifacio Capital District (BCD) is a financial district in Metro Manila, Philippines under the joint management of Megaworld Corporation and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. It covers the southern area of Fort Bonifacio with the Bonifacio Global City district situated north of the BCD, with McKinley Hill under the jurisdiction of Barangay Pinagsama and the rest under Barangay Fort Bonifacio. Makati claimed jurisdiction of most of the area as part of Barangay Post Proper Southside, which was later transferred to Taguig as part of the 2021 Supreme Court decision on the border dispute.The former Makati barangay has its barangay hall and de facto control of a residential area just north of McKinley West.
The New Clark City Athletics Stadium, also referred to as the New Clark Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. It is the primary venue of the New Clark City Sports Hub, which is part of the National Government Administrative Center. It hosted the athletics events and the closing ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The 11th Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships was held from February 26 to March 9, 2024, at New Clark City in Capas, Philippines.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Central Luzon is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached Central Luzon on March 9, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in San Jose del Monte. All provinces in the region have recorded COVID-19 cases. As of August 14, 2022. Central Luzon has 376,747 cases with 6,995 deaths.
Mega Ligtas COVID Centers, also known as Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), are temporary non-hospital health facilities or emergency patient care centers established and managed by the Philippine government to accommodate COVID-19 patients at a provincial or regional level as part of its efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Some facilities are also serving as quarantine sites for Filipino repatriates from other countries.
Vivencio "Vince" Bringas Dizon is a Filipino economist, consultant and political aide who previously served as president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. He also served as President Rodrigo Duterte's Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects and as Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19.
The Clark Sanitary Landfill is a landfill at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Capas, Tarlac managed and operated by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.. It stores and process waste from the Clark area as well as other areas in Central and Northern Luzon.
Metro Clark, also known as Metro Angeles, is an urban area in Pampanga and Tarlac, Philippines. It is primarily composed of three cities and nine municipalities. Its urban core consists of Angeles, San Fernando, and Mabalacat. It is a major urban area of the Philippines and is considered the industrial and residential center of Central Luzon.
New Clark City, BCDA's most ambitious project to date, is a new metropolis that will rise within the Clark Special Economic Zone, in Bamban and Capas, Tarlac.
Media related to New Clark City at Wikimedia Commons