In another effort to pursue the green and sustainable development of New Clark City, state-owned firm Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is seeking private partners to establish a large-scale solar photovoltaic power plant in this rising metropolis.

The BCDA is inviting all interested private companies to participate in the bid for the long-term lease of a 37-hectare property at the northernmost portion of New Clark City, and the development of a solar farm with a capacity of at least 25 megawatts and an investment of at least Php 1 billion. 

“In line with the renewable energy thrust of the Marcos administration, the BCDA is pushing for the development of sustainable energy sources in New Clark City. This solar farm is one of the crucial projects in New Clark City as it will supplement energy sources and lower energy costs for our locators, while also ensuring reduced carbon emissions,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa said. 

“The BCDA is calling for private sector partners to support us in this endeavor. Your participation is important as we strive to make New Clark City into a smart, sustainable and green city,” she added.

Under the terms of reference (TOR) for the bidding, the BCDA is offering the property for an initial lease period of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years upon mutual agreement of the parties.

Interested companies may participate in the bid by purchasing the TOR starting Wednesday, March 8, 2023. A pre-bid conference will be held on March 24 at 10:00 A.M at the BCDA Corporate Office in Taguig City. 

Participants have until April 21, 2023, 12:00 P.M. to submit the bid documents, eligibility requirements and financial proposal for the solar farm project. 

In line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the Marcos government is implementing policy reforms to promote renewable energy sources, thereby lowering energy costs and supporting the revitalization of industries. 

These efforts will help achieve the goal of the Philippine government of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. 

Anchored on the economic agenda and the Build Better More program of the current administration, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) seeks to harness the potential of New Clark City into a smart, sustainable and inclusive city that will help in further accelerating growth in Central Luzon.

To realize this goal, the BCDA has lined up several high-impact projects and programs in New Clark City, particularly in the fields of sustainable development, renewable energy, information and communication technology (ICT), estate management, transportation, tourism and smart city technologies, among others.

“The new BCDA leadership fully supports the Marcos administration’s 8-point socio-economic agenda as reflected in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, and its mission to propel economic and social transformation in the country in order to provide more jobs and lift more Filipinos from poverty. New Clark City is BCDA’s answer to reach this goal. Through the development of New Clark City, we not only strive to decongest Metro Manila, but we will also provide a catalyst to spread growth in Central Luzon and other provinces,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa said.

Once fully developed, New Clark City is projected to become the home of about one million residents, and provide job opportunities to around 600,000 Filipinos.

PCEO Zosa, however, emphasizes the importance of building strong partnerships with other government agencies, the private sector, and foreign allies to accelerate the development of New Clark City.

“New Clark City is a massive undertaking that the BCDA cannot do alone. We need the support of our partners in the public and private sectors to implement our programs and projects and ensure that Filipinos will really get the world-class metropolis they deserve,” she said. 

As of end-2022, investments committed by private and government locators in New Clark City has reached Php 95.51 billion, while actual investments infused have already hit Php 14.59 billion. 

Ongoing projects

Despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic, the BCDA and its partners continued their efforts to spur the development of New Clark City. 

Private partners are now forging ahead with their developments in the area, including Filinvest Land Inc. with its 288-hectare mixed-use township project, and Hann Development Corp. with its ultra-luxury mountain reserve project, which will feature the country’s first Banyan Tree.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is also moving forward with its plans to establish a 31.3-hectare complex complete with a currency production facility and state-of-the-art security system. 

The BCDA has allocated a five-hectare lot for the proposed Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, one of the top priorities of the Marcos administration for the health sector. 

In a move to strengthen the capability of future workforce through education, research and skills-training that are needed by locators, New Clark City is also welcoming educational institutions. So far, the National Academy of Sports, University of the Philippines, and Philippine Science High School have already started construction work.

With the help of the United Kingdom government, the BCDA is positioning New Clark City as a model of sustainability, preparing the groundwork for a green centerpiece which would become the country’s largest public park. 

BCDA is also gearing up to put New Clark City in the global map as an investment hub and sports tourism destination as it hosts regular business missions and sporting events in its facilities.

Connectivity, being a crucial component of the development, has also taken priority with multiple roads constructed to ease travel and link New Clark City to the Clark Freeport Zone and the Clark International Airport.

BCDA has also formed a partnership with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization for a three-year demonstration on smart mobility solutions to be implemented in New Clark City.

Projects in the pipeline

“But the work does not stop there. In order to realize our vision of making New Clark City into a smart, sustainable, and inclusive metropolis, BCDA is pursuing various projects in different fields, and we hope the private sector and our foreign partners will consider this development for their investment needs,” PCEO Zosa said.

Championing sustainability in New Clark City, BCDA is currently looking for partners to build a 25-megawatt solar farm that will augment the energy supply for locators in the area.

BCDA is also keen on a solid waste management and waste-to-energy project, which will entail the provision of a waste collection service and operation of existing assets within a sanitary landfill site in New Clark City. 

Meanwhile, BCDA also recognizes the need for a highly efficient internet service in New Clark City if it intends to develop the area into a smart metropolis. 

In line with this, the state-run corporation seeks to build telecommunication infrastructure for common use of internet service providers, connecting locators and residents through a high-speed network. This project will leverage the existing ICT framework under the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project developed in partnership with Facebook. 

BCDA is also searching for a private sector partner to design, develop, and manage a data center colocation facility.

To cut red tape and provide world-class services to its locators, BCDA is planning to implement a technology-based, automated, and real-time estate management service in New Clark City. 

Private partners are also welcome to participate in BCDA’s affordable housing project in the rising metropolis, covering 34 hectares of land with 6,000 units for a mixed-income population.

As part of efforts to improve connectivity, BCDA is inviting consultants to help in the transport-oriented development of New Clark City and the establishment of multimodal transport stations. 

And lastly, BCDA is exploring partnerships in the fields of research and development, particularly biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical science facilities; ecotourism; and mixed-use, retail, and food and beverage establishments.

“New Clark City is open for business. We are hoping the private sector puts their trust in the BCDA’s capacity, and track record when it comes to building great cities, and participate in projects that will further advance New Clark City and Central Luzon,” PCEO Zosa said.

Stressing the urgent need for a national virology center, the heads of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have agreed to work together for the smooth and immediate completion of the five-hectare Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

In a recent meeting, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) Aileen An. R. Zosa and DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. discussed details on the initial phases of the project, among which are the fencing and construction of an access road and dormitory. The Biosafety Level 3 and 4 laboratory building will be constructed in Phase 3. In contrast, Phase 2 will include the development of the main buildings and laboratories (BSL 1&2) as well as the utilities and support facilities of the site.

“We welcome this development as we are equally excited to work with DOST for this project. Learning from the pandemic, I believe the VIP is a significant step towards advancing the country’s capabilities in managing viruses and viral diseases,” said PCEO Zosa.

The DOST said that the proposed design and structure of buildings for the VIP will follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), and high containment laboratories will undergo international certification before they can commence operations.

The facilities comprising the VIP complex include an administration building, lecture hall, good manufacturing product building, human and animal virology laboratory, plant virology laboratory, animal isolation, Biosafety Level 3 and 4 laboratory building, plant cultivation area, dormitory, power station, and a sewage treatment plant.

BCDA allotted a five-hectare parcel of land at the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City to house the VIP for a period of 50 years, which may be extended for another 25 years.

The National Government has allocated funds to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the design, site development, and construction of the VIP buildings and facilities. On December 5, 2022, the House of Representatives passed on the third and final reading of House Bill No. 6452, the consolidation of 31 bills that seek for the establishment of a virology institute.

The creation of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines is one of the priority projects of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., mentioned during his first State of the Nation Address. Once completed, it will become an attached agency under the DOST.

Recognized for its sustainable and inclusive design, the proposed 44.8-hectare New Clark City Central Park has recently bagged the SEMEC Gold Award for the Analysis and Planning Category of the 2022 Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards.

The award was presented to global architectural firm Broadway Malyan Asia Pte. Ltd., who was tapped by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO) to design the park as part of its assistance to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) under the Global Future Cities Programme (GFCP).

Judges commended New Clark City Central Park for its “exciting design with the potential to integrate the various stakeholding communities.”

They also gave the project credits for the efforts taken in carrying out extensive workshops and engagements with the community.

“We are very honored to have received this award for the Central Park at New Clark City, particularly as it is judged by professionals, academics and experts in their field. The final design for the park is the result of a lot of hard work and ideas from a team based in the Philippines, Singapore and UK, and included extensive consultation and workshops,” said Broadway Malyan Main Board Director Ed Baker.

“With the FCDO and BCDA as inspirational and ambitious clients, the team wanted to deliver a special park that was appropriate to New Clark City as a green and inclusive metropolis and a place unique to the local culture. We are very proud of the results of the final design and this award is a recognition of that,” he added.

British Deputy Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair White also welcomed the recognition given by the award-giving body for the New Clark City Central Park project.

“We are very proud of the recognition given to the Global Future Cities New Clark City Programme by the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects for the design of the New Clark City Central Park. The award is a testament to the UK’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development. We will continue to work in the Philippines to bring in the best of UK expertise to support ongoing and future infrastructure projects,” he said.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa also said, “this recognition from the Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards just shows that we are in the right direction towards the development of a sustainable and green metropolis that Filipinos can be proud of. We at the BCDA congratulate our partners in UK FCDO and Broadway Malyan for this feat. We thank them for going above and beyond at their job to help us achieve our mission.”

New Clark City, the Philippines’ first smart, resilient and green metropolis is one of the 19 beneficiary-cities of the GFCP, in line with the UK’s thrust to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and urban resilience across the globe.

UK FCDO’s support to New Clark City included the development of an open space strategy, which features a 44.8-hectare public park located at the heart of the metropolis. The Central Park is envisioned to become one of the country’s largest urban parks.

It also delivered the masterplan for a 33.89-hectare affordable housing project in New Clark City, as well as a framework for the creation of a Sustainability Unit in BCDA.

The Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards is a biennial event that honors and sets new benchmarks in design and best practices of landscape architecture. It celebrates the works of landscape architecture firms recognized in Singapore.

Over 450 top athletes from nine countries, including the Philippines, ramped up the fun in New Clark City, as they competed and vied for podium finishes at the 2022 National Duathlon Championship. The race event forms part of the selection process for the composition of the national pool who will compete in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), the Philippines’ national governing body for triathlon, hosted the much-awaited 2022 National Duathlon Championship in New Clark City last Sunday, 4 December 2022.

The country’s finest duathletes competed against foreign contingents from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

The signature event of the TRAP, which is the 13-15 age group category (super sprint), featured the Philippines’ Youth Olympic Games aspirants and the next generation of duathletes and triathletes in the national team. 

“Malaking tulong ito [National Duathlon Championships] lalo na ‘yung 13-15 years old, kasi after that they will become 16-19. Dito ‘yung talagang magfa-farm-out tayo. This is our grassroots development for duathlon. Sa triathlon we are also very particular sa 13-15. We always provide them the opportunity,” said TRAP President Tom Carrasco during an interview with the media.

Mr. Carrasco expressed optimism on the quality of athletes that the country will be sending for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia. 

“Their (athletes) performance now is based on train-to-compete or train-to-qualify. January to April (next year) their training mode will switch to train-to-win gold in the Sea Games. So out of 7 events, we hope to win 4. That is my prediction,” he added.

Participants of the 2022 National Duathlon Championship enjoyed a picturesque landscape as they biked and ran around New Clark City and its nearby communities in Capas, Tarlac.

“Andito na ngayon ang TRAP. It is the federation in the Philippines for triathlon and duathlon events. So napakalaking exposure and trust that is given to us by TRAP. It is really heartwarming. Napakita namin na itong mga venues natin dito sa New Clark City ay perfect for high-level competitions,” said Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Arrey Perez.

With its reopening last May after more than a year of pandemic lockdowns and the complex’s use as a quarantine facility, SVP Perez said that the New Clark City is becoming the “venue of choice” among local and international sports training camps and competitions. 

“Kami here in BCDA and New Clark City, we are ready for the training camps of our athletes. There is enough time for them to prepare and train,” he assured.  

National athlete Fernando Jose Cesares ruled the sprint distance men’s elite category,  finishing the 5,000(run)-20,000-(bike)-2.500(run) race in 58 minutes and 3 seconds to beat fellow national athlete John Leerams Chicano (58.09) and Maynard Pecson (58.13).

Meanwhile, Cebuana Raven Faith Alcoseba claimed the gold medal for the women’s elite category by clocking in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, topping Singaporean Louisa Middleditch (1:07.10) and Merry Joy Trupa (1:08.50). 

Opened in 2019, the New Clark City sports complex is the first major sports hub constructed by the national government since the completion of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in 1934. It served as one of the venues for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

The New Clark City Sports Complex currently comprises three major facilities, namely the World Athletics-certified Athletics Stadium, with 20,000 seating capacity; the Aquatics Center, which is the only Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)-approved swimming facility in the country; and the 525-room Athletes’ Village, which features a gym, basketball court, swimming pool, lounge, gym and other recreational facilities.