“With the proximity of the Subic port and Clark International airport, the Clark Freeport is attracting both local and foreign investors.”
The proposed township development and big housing projects set to rise on this former American military base foretells an economic boom.
Foreign investors are scouring idle lands covered by the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone while the government is about to launch the construction of the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project that could cost over $7 billion.
The revival of the New Clark City as a green and smart city, meanwhile, is taking shape. The planned new metropolis seeks to position itself as a premier industrial hub that can attract local and foreign investors.
With the proximity of the Subic port and Clark International airport, the Clark Freeport is attracting both local and foreign investors.
Singapore is lending its hand to develop New Clark City after the recent visit of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to the Philippines.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang presented the government’s vision of transforming New Clark City into an industrial hub where Singaporean businesses can contribute.
The BCDA teamed up with Surbana Jurong of Singapore in drawing up New Clark City’s Comprehensive Master Development Plan, leveraging on Singapore’s expertise in smart city development.
More investments are coming. Early last month, Federal Express Corp., one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, said it was expanding its operations in the Clark gateway.
FedEx signed an agreement with Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), operator and manager of Clark Airport, to build a new facility to support the growing demand for e-commerce, freight and cold-chain shipments across the Asia Pacific region.
The new FedEx facility, once completed, will more than double the size of its current capacity.
“We are pleased to sign this agreement that symbolizes our intent to kick-start the expansion of our gateway at Clark,” says Maribeth Espinosa, managing director of FedEx Philippines.
Just last week, BB International Leisure and Resort Development Corp. (BBILRDC) of Taiwan expressed an interest to invest another P15 billion for a new eco-conscious integrated township in Clark Freeport.
The investment will fund the development of the 101-hectare Midori Highlands—an innovative project that blends green living with modern urban amenities, including high-rise condominiums and a logistics center.
BBILRDC president Wun Xu Wu stressed the project’s sustainable features, such as rainwater collection, solar power generation and energy-efficient transportation.
A state housing development will also accommodate future workers in Clark Freeport. Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the administrator of Clark Freeport, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development are planning build 50,000 housing units in Clark.
“Clark is one of the areas where expansion of development outside the National Capital Region is very ideal. Apart from its proximity to Metro Manila, it already has modern infrastructures that are necessary in a sustainable township,” says housing czar Jose Rizalino Acuzar.
Underpinning Clark’s renaissance is the planned P8.5-billion National Food Hub rising within the boundaries of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) in Clark Freeport and the Subic-Batangas railway.
The food hub and railway projects are the major features of the highly touted Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC)―the result of the summit between the US, Japan and the Philippines in April.
The food hub envisions a state-of-the-art facility replicating advanced agro-logistics systems from Asia and Europe. It aims to elevate food safety standards and provide better opportunities for local farmers, fisherfolk and growers.
The railway project, meanwhile, seeks to streamline logistics, reduce transportation costs and promote better economic integration. Stretching 250 kilometers, it will link Subic and Batangas ports and pass through Metro Manila.
The cargo and freight service of the proposed railway will surely enhance the connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas once the LEC is firmly established. It is intended for cargo trains and is distinct from the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which is currently under construction. The NSCR is designed for passenger transportation and is estimated to cost P873.62 billion once completed in five years.
The proposed freight service between Clark airport and Subic port alone is a boon to the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport. Linking these hubs to the big ports of Batangas and Manila is another game changer. Subic, Clark. Manila and Batangas comprise 80 percent of all port traffic nationwide.
The new growth corridor will speed up investments in high-impact infrastructure projects, including the NSCR, ports modernization, clean energy, semiconductor supply chains and agribusiness.
Clark Freeport and New Clark City, along with the LEC, are the new wave of urban planning. They are the emerging economic hubs that will supplant Metro Manila.
E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extranstory2000@gmail.com
