The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Clark Development Corp. (CDC) have teamed up to explore possible collaboration under President Marcos’ flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino program (4PH).
“Clark has a very big potential in terms of location and infrastructure. It’s very ideal for our concept of township development under the President’s flagship 4PH program,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said.
Acuzar noted that the projected collaboration “is like hitting four birds with one stone” in terms of addressing the perennial housing crisis.
The DHSUD chief said they aim to address homelessness by providing shelters to workers, resolve massive urbanization by expanding development outside Metro Manila, raise the value of real estate by establishing new green and smart cities, and create communities to trigger economic activities.
The establishment of townships within the vicinities of Clark Special Economic Zone and the Clark Freeport Zone was among the priorities discussed during the meeting last Monday between Acuzar and CDC president and chief executive officer Agnes Devanadera.
Acuzar noted that most ingredients of an ideal new and modern city were already in place inside Clark, such as an international airport, hotels, hospitals, schools and other modern infrastructure.
“The only (thing) lacking now is local populace to trigger economic activities in the area,” he said.
“By developing townships in Clark, we will be bringing in population. If there are more people, progress is much faster,” Acuzar added.