Mark Williams, CEO of Global Gateway Development Corp. (GGDC), said the progress has put Central Luzon, with Clark as its hub, in leading the next wave of growth particularly in Luzon.
Williams, whose development in this freeport is boosting the competitiveness of this former US military base, pointed out that Clark is less than two hours away from Taiwan, southern China, Hong Kong and Macau, and only three hours away from Japan, Thailand, northern China and Singapore by plane.
With the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), this freeport is only 30 minutes from the newly expanded Subic Bay deep-water port.
Under this administration, it is poised to raise its profile further with the revival of the Manila-Clark railway route. With this development, Clark will transform even further into a destination.
GGLC
Adjacent to Clark International Airport is a 177-hectare site that’s transforming into an important commercial and logistics hub. With the incomparable advantage of its strategic location, Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC) is one of the largest development sites in Luzon and already has easy access to air, sea and land connections.
GGLC is close enough to Metro Manila for its residents to benefit from its concentration of businesses but far enough not to suffer from the congestion consuming the nation’s capital.
GGLC is the brainchild of the GGDC, an international fi rm that developed the fully master-planned property.
As their answer to Metro Manila’s Bonifacio Global City, GGDC says it has built the site to the highest international standards of quality, safety and design.
The master plan provides for parks and open spaces that, in addition to the site’s prime backup generators with seven- day backup fuel supply, onsite water wells and storage, grey water reclamation and modern sewage system; keep the city livable, disaster- ready and minimize its environmental impact, he said.
As a sign of what’s to come, The Medical City hospital opened at the GGLC in 2014, bringing the best of the Philippines’ healthcare into Clark and Central Luzon.
Nearby is the growing campus of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Clark. Once an extension of UP’s flagship campus in Diliman, UP Clark is being expanded into a three-hectare permanent campus.
With the infrastructure and connectivity already in place, Williams said Clark is one of the best places to take advantage of.
Its proximity to Manila already makes the Clark airport a viable alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) together with its road and sea connections, few other locations can compare.
“In light of Manila’s frustrations, developments outside the capital give a vision of what this future could look like: well-planned and extensively connected cities like GGLC holds the promise of Philippine growth,” Williams concluded.
