BCDA kicks off greening campaign in New Clark City

BCDA kicks off greening campaign in New Clark City

BCDA holds tree planting activity in New Clark City to celebrate its 30th anniversary and Earth Day 2022. The event is joined by BCDA Vice President for Engineering and Social Support Department Mark P. Torres (front right), Department of Transportation Project Manager at the Joint Project Management Office for the Subic-Clark Railway Project Engr. Jomar Ramos (front left), Asian Development Bank Office of Public-Private Partnership Head Cleo Kawawaki (back left), Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. President Renato S. Tayag Jr. (center) and Local Government of Capas, Tarlac Municipal Planning and Development Officer Maita Claire Bartolome (back right).

In line with its thrust to promote sustainable development in the country, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently launched its year-long reforestation and greening campaign through a tree planting activity in New Clark City, Tarlac.

A total of 500 seedlings were planted within New Clark City during the campaign kick-off last April 22, organized in partnership with private sector groups led by the Abacan River and Angeles Watershed Advocacy Council Inc. (ARAW-ACI).

This event is the first in a series of tree planting initiatives to be conducted by BCDA as part of the state organization’s 30th anniversary celebration this year. It was also held in observance of Earth Day 2022 themed “Invest in Our Planet.”

“New Clark City was built on the principles of sustainability, resiliency and inclusivity. While we continue the implementation of high-impact infrastructure projects to propel economic growth, we recognize our duty to give back to Mother Earth and to preserve the environment for our future generations,” said Engr. Mark P. Torres, vice president for the Engineering and Social Support Department of the BCDA.

“This initiative is just one of the steps taken by BCDA to achieve inclusivity through sustainability. Moving forward and further, we hope to be instrumental in investing in the planet alongside partners,” he added.

ARAW-ACI provided the seedlings for the tree planting activity, consisting of bamboo, narra, molave and kalantas. The choice of seedlings was based on the recommendations made by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its Biodiversity Assessment Study for New Clark City.

“I am extending our deepest gratitude to BCDA for making us a partner-advocate in launching the greening and reforestation campaign for sustainable communities. Our shared dream and goal is to provide enough resources for future generations–that is ensuring sustainability through our advocacies for water security, food security and climate change action,” ARAW-ACI President Renato S. Tayag Jr. said.

Cleo Kawawaki, head of Asian Development Bank’s Office of Public-Private Partnership, said, “Smart, resilient and green–this is the way of the future. BCDA has been a trailblazer in urban development and making this dream come true. I am so excited to be a part of this tree planting to make resilience and water preservation be a part of this great endeavor.”

In addition to sustainability goals, the tree planting drive also fulfills the commitment of BCDA and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to replace trees that will be affected by the Subic-Clark Railway Project (SCRP).

SCRP is a 71-km freight railway connecting Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport Zone, linking the Port of Subic Bay and Clark International Airport and other economic hubs in the region, including New Clark City.

ARAW-ACI is a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and a long-time partner of the Angeles City LGU in the Adopt-A-Watershed advocacy program in Barangay Sapangbato, Angeles City.

The ADB, meanwhile, is one of the institutions consulted by BCDA in the planning and development of New Clark City. In 2019, the multilateral bank published its Biodiversity Assessment Study for New Clark City aimed to generate new scientific information that will enable the government to build New Clark City’s foundation on nature-based solutions.

Int’l tourism industry leaders tour Clark, New Clark City

Int'l tourism industry leaders tour Clark, New Clark City
Delegates of the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Manila visit the New Clark City Athletics Stadium as part of their investment tour of Clark and New Clark City on April 23, 2022.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), hosted on April 23 an international delegation of travel industry leaders from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the global body representing the travel and tourism private sector and its industries, in an investment tour of New Clark City and the Clark Freeport Zone.

The investment tour was the final activity for delegates of the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit held in the Philippines from April 20 to 22, the council’s second major in-person gathering since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WTTC delegates were given presentations at the new Clark International Airport passenger terminal, and tours of the Clark Freeport Zone and New Clark City, where the closing ceremony was held. The new Clark terminal, an airport finalist in the 2021 Prix Versailles Architecture and Design awards, will open up increased travel, business and mobility north of Metro Manila.

Seeking to showcase developments and attract investments in Clark and New Clark City, the activity was organized by BCDA, CDC, the Department of Tourism (DoT), the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp., BCDA’s operations and maintenance provider for the new Clark terminal.

Clark and New Clark City were the key investment destinations showcased for the summit attendees, whose tour itinerary primarily included top Philippine tourist attractions such as Boracay Island in Aklan and El Nido, Palawan. The BCDA, CDC and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), an affiliate of the BCDA Group, were among the government agencies that presented investment offerings to the delegates.

Atty. Aristotle B. Batuhan, BCDA Officer-in-Charge President and Chief Executive Officer, said the WTTC visit came at a perfect time as Clark and New Clark City are playing increasingly critical roles in enabling the local tourism industry and the Philippine economy transition to the new normal.

“The BCDA has always believed that the vision for New Clark City as a smart, resilient, sustainable and inclusive metropolis of the future deserves to be on the world stage. What better way to do this than to let international tourism leaders experience in person the excitement that is building here in New Clark City. We at the BCDA are thrilled to host our WTTC guests and show them how far we’ve come in making this vision a reality,” Batuhan said.

Batuhan added, “Opportunities for travel, sports tourism and strategic investing will become even more accessible after New Clark City reopens its doors to the public, and when the new Clark International Airport Terminal begins operations in the coming weeks.”

For his part, CDC President and Chief Executive Officer Manuel R. Gaerlan said, “We are delighted to welcome the World Travel and Tourism Council delegates to the Clark Freeport Zone. Their presence provides us with an excellent opportunity to highlight the exciting tourism developments in Clark. At the same time, we hope that their visit to the Freeport will underscore Clark’s potential as a leading business location, with its stable investment climate and world-class facilities and utilities. We look forward to fostering a meaningful partnership with the members of WTTC and usher in more business opportunities and possibilities in Clark.”

Delegates were given a rolling tour of sites of interest in Clark, covering hotels, resorts, tourist sites, luxury and recreational facilities, and corporate offices. CDC continues its rise as a prime tourism and commercial hub outside of Metro Manila, with over 1,100 business locators setting up shop in the freeport.

For the New Clark City leg of the investment tour, the spotlight was also on world-class sports facilities in the rising metropolis, including the Fédération Internationale de Natation’s (FINA)- approved Aquatics Center and the 525-room Athletes’ Village. New Clark City’s sports complex was a centerpiece venue of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The investment tour wrapped up at the Athletics Stadium, a Class 1 sports facility certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which recently received a highly commended nod from the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in the Completed Buildings – Sport Category.

During the closing ceremony, delegates were treated to assorted Kapampangan and Filipino delicacies for a satisfying taste of the local cuisine and culture.

Int'l tourism industry leaders tour Clark, New Clark City
Engr. Joshua Bingcang, SVP of BCDA’s Conversion and Development Group, presents investment offerings in New Clark City to delegates of the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit during their visit to the new Clark International Airport terminal on April 23, 2022. BCDA photo
Int'l tourism industry leaders tour Clark, New Clark City
Delegates of the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, Philippine government officials and private sector partners listen to investment offerings at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac corridor during their investment tour of Clark and New Clark City on April 23, 2022.

BCDA, CNLCSCA ink deal for swim events at New Clark City

BCDA, CNLCSCA ink deal for swim events at New Clark City
BCDA Executive Vice President and COO Aileen R. Zosa (second from right), representing BCDA President and CEO Atty. Aristotle B. Batuhan, and CNLCSCA Secretary General Rolando Dela Cruz (second from left) lead the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding for the use of sports facilities in New Clark City. BCDA SVP for Corporate Services Arrey Perez (rightmost) and CNLCSCA Director and AC Dax Aquatics Swim Club Head Coach Jensen “Dax” Halili (leftmost) serve as witnesses. The signing event was held on April 22, 2022 at the Aquatics Center of New Clark City, Tarlac.

The Central Northern Luzon-CAR Swimming Coaches Association (CNLCSCA) signed Friday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to promote and hold various sports events at New Clark City in Tarlac.

The agreement paved the way for the resumption of CNLCSCA’s grassroots swimming series, which was halted for over two years with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by the Angeles City-based AC Dax Aquatics Swim Club, the 80th CNLCSCA Swim Series will commence Saturday at the New Clark City Aquatics Center, with 650 participants from Central and North Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, as well as some swimmers from Metro Manila.

BCDA Officer-in-Charge President and CEO Atty. Aristotle B. Batuhan, represented by Executive Vice President Aileen R. Zosa, and CNLCSCA Secretary General Rolando Dela Cruz led the signing of the MOU, which provides for collaboration over a period of one year, and renewable for another year.

“We at the BCDA would like to thank CNLCSCA for choosing New Clark City as your venue of choice for competitions and events. As restrictions continue to ease, BCDA will ensure that this world-class facility remains accessible to athletes of all ages and backgrounds,” Zosa said.

Acknowledging CNLCSCA’s efforts to develop grassroots athletes, Zosa said, “We hope to bear witness to the emergence of a new generation of talented, promising, and outstanding swimmers who can compete on the national and international stage.”

New Clark City, BCDA’s inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development project north of Metro Manila, remains ready for sporting events amid the pandemic. Its sports complex includes the Fédération Internationale de Natation’s (FINA)- approved Aquatics Center, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)- certified Athletics Stadium, and the 525-room Athletes’ Village.

“By incredibly hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games, we believe that New Clark City is a really good venue for promoting our goals of developing the grassroots program benefiting our athletes. We want them to experience how it is like being in a place where magnificent opportunities are possible,” Dela Cruz said.

Comeback of competitive swimming

Following FINA competition rules, the 80th CNLCSCA Swim Series will be conducted with timed finals based on the participants’ age groups.

Jensen “Dax” Halili, CNLCSCA director and the head coach of the AC Dax Aquatics Swim Club, expressed excitement about the return of competitive swimming for local swimmers, with New Clark City as the venue.

“There will be more than 600 swimmers who will participate from different walks of life. We believe that they truly need this boost and motivation amidst the pandemic by competing in our world-class facilities,” Halili said.

Health and safety protocols will be strictly enforced during the swim series to protect all participants, coaches, and staff.