CLARK FREEPORT — The Clark Development Corp. and property developer Ozoo
Development Corp. (ODC) sealed a lease agreement for a 200-hectare integrated mixed-use development under a joint management agreement (JMA) covering Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) 025-A.
Signed by CDC president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera and ODC chairman Nam Kwan Sik, the lease involves a P4-billion development anchored by a golf resort, with hotel and villa components, and is intended to support tourism, leisure, and long-term investment within the freeport. Once completed, the project is projected to generate approximately 120 direct jobs and 450 indirect jobs.
According to Nam, the development will integrate smart city technologies and environmentally responsible design, including sustainable infrastructure, efficient resource systems, and regulated land-use practices.
Devanadera said the lease agreement followed consultations with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and local leaders, consistent with the governance framework for ancestral domains.
“This is a triumph of what we are fighting for – progress in the CADT area. Beyond investors and CDC, the true beneficiaries are the owners of CADT. Kaya ngayon, mayroon tayong tagumpay. Ito ang hangad natin para sa lahat,” Devanadera said. “Let us take care of this program. Make sure we take care of progress.”
The JMA governing CADT 025-A was originally signed on Dec. 6, 2007 but remained unimplemented for nearly 17 years. On March 19, 2024, the agreement was operationalized under the leadership of Devanadera following the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the JMA and the Land Use Management Plan by CDC, the NCIP, and the Ayta indigenous community.
These documents form part of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP), which serves as the framework for the development and protection of ancestral lands.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by CDC chairperson Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan and members of the CDC board of directors Jose Philip Panlilio, Atty. Manuel Feliciano, Atty. Pablo de Borja, Sharon Faye Malapitan-Bautista, and Atty. Helen Nicolette Henson and other members of the senior management of CDC.
Also present were representatives of the Indigenous Political Structure led by Oscar Rivera of the Pinanlupuyan Mamuun, and NCIP Region3 OIC director Atty. Roman Antonio.
Nam cited the coordination among CDC, NCIP, and the Pinanlupuyan Mamuun throughout the process. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to say something very important, it’s the harmony. Because only through harmony can this project be a success. Through the leadership of CDC, of course Ayta and NCIP, we finally have this ceremony today. Our long wait has a successful conclusion.”
For his part, Rivera said the project would benefit the Ayta community. “Ako po, masaya ako dahil ito ay project na naman, ito po ay kapaki-pakinabang sa buong Ayta,” Rivera said.
Under the JMA framework, CDC and the recognized Indigenous Political Structure jointly manage and authorize developments within ancestral domains, ensuring that investments proceed with respect for Indigenous governance, legal safeguards, and regulatory processes. CDC-PR
