MABALACAT CITY — With the vision of building a brand new metropolis, Bases and Conversion Development Authority president-CEO Vince Dizon shared updates on the developments in Clark during the Asia CEO Forum via Facebook Live on Thursday.
According to Dizon, the two major projects are the expansion of the Clark International Airport which will allow businesses in the country to thrive and serve as a major hub throughout the world, and the continuing progress of the New Clark City which is envisioned to be the country’s new growth area and an alternative to Metro Manila.
“Clark was always envisioned to be a major hub for logistics and other sectors of the economy. What we tried to do under the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration is develop the infrastructure that is already in Clark in a way that will attract more industries and businesses to locate and move out of Metro Manila and move into Clark,” said Dizon.
He also mentioned that the inauguration of the new airport terminal will be in June. As it will begin to drive the economic development in the entire region, he also shared that FedEx, a major logistics operator, has already built its new facility in Clark which will open to service the locators and the entire country by the third quarter of this year.
Dizon stated that despite the challenges of the pandemic, the developments are at full speed to attract government offices to relocate in Clark.
According to Dizon, some of the government offices will also move to Clark, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to relocate in a world-class 30-hectare facility that will house the currency production, mint facility, and the central bank data facility. The Supreme Court will also build its first regional judicial center in NCC.
As a response to the pandemic, Dizon shared, one of the major flagship projects is the construction of the first Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines in NCC by the Department of Science and Technology which has already been approved by the National Economic Development Authority. Dizon said it will serve as a major research institute to help address pandemics that may come in the future.
The Department of Agriculture will likewise set out to build an agro-industrial and national seed technology park which can address various food security issues that have come up the past year brought by the pandemic situation.
Dizon also mentioned that they will start the construction of the National Academy of Sports and hopes to welcome the pioneer students of the academy next school year once Covid-19 ends.
Apart from the government agencies, the developments in Clark have also attracted major private sectors and brands in the tourism sector despite the challenges of Covid-19.
“Filinvest is already in the final stages of development for the first phase of its 288-hectares mixed-use industrial park. The first Banyan Tree partnership with Widus will build a world-class ultraluxury mountain resort on 450 hectares in the mountains in NCC,” Dizon said. “Already under construction is the Sky Blue Golf Club and Resort and hopefully by 2021 we can already open this world-class resort.”
Despite the pandemic, Dizon shared his excitement of the current progress assuring everything is all set once Covid-19 is under control, moving towards recovery. He also hopes that the next administration will continue and fast-track all the developments for the benefit of all Filipinos throughout the country.
