The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) signed a 50-year lease agreement with state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Thursday to establish the country’s first modern space facility within the New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac province.
The landmark agreement grants PhilSA a prime location in NCC, paving the way for the development of a state-of-the-art complex dedicated to advancing the country’s space capabilities and research endeavors.
“According to them, putting up their office and research facility in Clark is the country’s best foot forward in the space economy,” said BCDA executive vice president Gisela Kalalo at the 3rd edition of the Subic/Clark Business Conference hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ICCPI) at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
She said PhilSA is keen on establishing one of the most modern space centers in Southeast Asia.
The contract signing ceremony, held at the BCDA office in Bonifacio Global City, was attended by key officials from both agencies, including PhilSA director-general Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. and BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang.
Marciano said PhilSA envisions a bright future for the Philippine space industry with the new facility.
“With this partnership, imagine what we can accomplish in the next five, 10 years or more,” he said.
Bingcang highlighted New Clark City’s perfect location for the project, given its status as the first smart and disaster-resilient city in the Philippines.
“Once built, we are confident that the Philippines will have one of the most modern space centers in Southeast Asia; and what better place for this to happen than in New Clark City, the first smart and disaster-resilient city in the Philippines,” he said.
The establishment of the PhilSA headquarters and research facility in New Clark City is expected to accelerate the development of space-related technologies and industries.
