CLARK FREEPORT — The state-owned Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has signed yet another “new master development” for this Freeport, this time with renowned architect Felino Palafox Jr. who was also recently commissioned by the Pampanga provincial government for a “megalopolis” plan for the province.
CDC president-CEO Noel Manankil signed the agreement with Palafox, founder of Palafox Associates.
“The new Master Development Plan (MDP) will make the Freeport more marketable, effective, viable and in harmony with the recent, current and planned developments for Clark, to include the Clark International Airport and Green City development,” the CDC said in a statement.
The CDC has not responded to inquiry on how much the services of Palafox would cost, but his megalopolis master plan for Pampanga was reported to be worth P22 million.
The megalopolis plan has been criticized for its lack of inputs from scientists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), as Pampanga has always been prone to flooding and, since the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, volcanic lahar threats.
Manankil said “the new MDP and its concomitant business plan will leverage on the potentials of Clark to incorporate environment friendly, smart and resilient ‘green initiatives’ to its current status as a modern industrial estate and premier service and logistics hub in the region.”
The CDC has had several master plans for Clark since it was transformed into an economic zone in 1995.
CDC noted that “Palafox Associates is known for its architecture, master planning, and/or urban design of islands, provinces, cities, municipalities and towns, retail and entertainment centers, golf course communities, commercial, office, institutional, industrial, residential, and tourism estates and mixed-use development projects of high-, medium-, and lowrise buildings.”
Manankil said the master plan “will also take into consideration the expiring 25-year lease contracts of the initial batch of locators and the current thrust of the Duterte administration on infrastructure developments in Central Luzon. In light of the expirations of lease contracts, the MDP would optimize the development potentials of Clark without compromising the economic, environmental and social integrity of the Main Zone with the surrounding areas.”
CDC said the “proposed new MDP will also include Subic-Clark Corridor and consider a total integrated master plan not just for Clark but for the entire Corridor (Clark Civil Aviation Complex Area, CFZ, Clark Special Economic Zone and New Green City).”
It noted that “the new development plan will also use the current land use plan for Clark airport complex prepared by French firm Aeroport De Paris in support with the proposed development plans in infrastructure, equipment, and additional flights at Clark airport on the development of the airport as domestic flights hub.”
