New Clark City

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Not to be confused with Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone or Clark Global City.

New Clark City
Planned community
New Clark City Sports Hub (Aerial View, June 30, 2020).jpg
Official logo of New Clark City
Coordinates: 15°19′20.2″N 120°30′21.4″E / 15.322278°N 120.505944°E / 15.322278; 120.505944Coordinates: 15°19′20.2″N 120°30′21.4″E / 15.322278°N 120.505944°E / 15.322278; 120.505944
Country Philippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceTarlac
MunicipalityCapas
Bamban
Economic zoneClark Special Economic Zone
Managing entityBases Conversion and Development Authority
Area
 • Total94.50 km2 (36.49 sq mi)
Highest elevation
800 m (2,600 ft)
Lowest elevation
54 m (177 ft)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
Websitewww.newclark.ph

New Clark City is a planned community currently undergoing development, located within the Clark Special Economic Zone in the towns of Bamban and Capas in Tarlac province, Philippines.[1] It has an area of approximately 9,450 hectares (23,400 acres) and will accommodate up to 1.2 million people. It is owned and managed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).[2]

Naming[edit]

Logo of the community as Clark Green City.

The project was named "Clark" for marketing purposes for potential investors in the area. This naming decision was made despite being located in Tarlac and not in Pampanga (the location of the already existing Clark Freeport Zone) due to the latter being more known to foreign investors. The BCDA compared this with the situation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which was Olongapo in Zambales, and Morong and Hermosa in Bataan, and not in Subic, Zambales.[3]

During the Duterte administration, the planned city was renamed from "Clark Green City" to "New Clark City".

History[edit]

Conceptualization[edit]

New Clark City, previously known as Clark Green City was first presented by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) under the administration of then-president Arnel Casonova in 2012. The then-proposal was met with skepticism from some high-ranking government officials due to the development's proposed location being remote. Casanova envisioned a development with wide and tree-shaded pedestrian lanes. He also envisioned the development to be free of gated communities to discourage heavy traffic.[4]

The BCDA held a design competition for the master conceptual development plan for Clark Green City with AECOM coming up with the winning design in 2015. Members of the screening committee included notable local and international urban planners and designers such as: Andrea Dorotan and Paul Letana of Bases Conversion Development Authority; Jezreel Apelar of Urban Land Institute; Julia Nebrija of World Bank; Grace Ramos of the University of the Philippines; Stephen Gray of Harvard University, Fadi Masoud of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, Mary Anne Ocampo of international design firm Sasaki.[5]

After Casanova's tenure in BCDA ended, he joined AECOM as the firm's representative in the Philippines.[4] In March 2015, the Philippine Congress approved House Resolution 116 in support of Clark Green City.[6]

The overall masterplan development is under the BCDA. BCDA signed a 50-year contract with Filinvest to develop the 288 hectares (710 acres) of land allocated for the project. BCDA also managed to make partnership with foreign firms to develop Clark Green City such as Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. which plans to connect Clark Green City to Manila as well as surrounding cities by rail, and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute which will assist the BCDA to come up with "smart and disaster-resilient" features for the planned community. An agreement was also signed between Paris-based Vivapolis.[7]

Development (2016–present)[edit]

Groundbreaking ceremony.

The groundbreaking rites for New Clark City, led by then-President Benigno Aquino III was made on April 11, 2016.[8] The development became one of the flagship projects of President Rodrigo Duterte, the succeeding President.[9] Under the leadership of BCDA President Vince Dizon, the New Clark City entered development. In March 2018, the development of Phase 1-A of the National Government Administrative Center which consists of the New Clark City Sports Complex began and would serve as one of the venues to the country's hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The sports facilities were completed in record time for the games.[10][11]

In July 2020, the BCDA and the Department of Agriculture are planning to put up an Agro-Industrial Hub in New Clark City aimed to support farming communities, and strengthen food security in Luzon.[12]

The BCDA in September 2020 signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Embassy Manila for the design of NCC Central Park, as well as an affordable housing project in the new metropolis. A symbolic marker was unveiled in July 2021 at New Clark City by BCDA and the British Embassy Manila to ceremonially lay the foundation of the central park.[13]

Geography[edit]

New Clark City spans an area of 9,450 hectares (23,400 acres) and is located within the former U.S. military base of Camp O'Donnell.[14] The development is located in the municipalities of Capas and Bamban, Tarlac province[1] although it is administered from Angeles City as part of the Clark Special Economic Zone.[15]

Natural hazards[edit]

The development is not a flood-prone area with its minimum elevation being at 54 metres (177 ft) above sea level[16] and its planned central park also serves as a flood catchment basin. The Sierra Madre mountain range is located on the development's east while the Zambales mountain range is located on the west, with both geographical features providing New Clark City a natural protection from typhoons.[8] The maximum elevation of New Clark City is at around 800 metres (2,600 ft).[16]

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has assessed the area to be relatively less prone to earthquakes.[16]

Parks[edit]

Capas National Shrine at the entrance to New Clark City

The Capas National Shrine, a memorial for Allied soldiers who perished at the Bataan Death March during World War II,[17][18] is located at the entrance of the development. The site was a former concentration camp during the war. The New Clark City Central Park, a 44.8-hectare (111-acre) urban park, is located in the heart of the metropolis.[13] Aside from the two large parks, BCDA plans to allocate portions of NCC for green spaces. Out of 9,450 hectares of the city, only 3,500 hectares will be developed, leaving the rest for green and open spaces, making it a green city.[4]

Districts[edit]

New Clark City is divided into various districts depending on primary function.[14] As of 2019, there are two official districts with ongoing development.

National Government Administrative Center[edit]

Main article: National Government Administrative Center

The National Government Administrative Center (NGAC), a 200-hectare (490-acre) mixed-used development, hosts facilities and offices for the Philippine government. It is meant to serve as a "backup city" in case the capital is incapacitated by disasters,[19] alongside being a "one-stop-shop" for businesses in the Central Luzon region.[20]

Sports Hub[edit]

The New Clark City Athletics Stadium.
Main article: New Clark City Sports Hub

The New Clark City Sports Hub located within the National Government Administrative Center contains an athletes' village, an aquatics center and a 20,000-seater athletics stadium. New Clark City was one of the host cities of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which took place all over Luzon. The closing ceremony was held in the Athletics Stadium.[21] The said sporting facilities were also to be used as the venues for the Aquatics and Athletics events in the 2020 ASEAN Para Games,[22] before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2019, BCDA, the Asian Swimming Federation, Philippine Swimming and Philippine Sports Commission signed a partnership agreement for the country's hosting of the 2020 Asian Swimming Championships which will be held in New Clark City.[23][24]

In June 2021, in a lead up to the 2021 PFL Season, United City F.C. announced that it has adopted New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac as its home locality. It also has entered a partnership with the local government of Pampanga.

Filinvest New Clark City[edit]

Filinvest New Clark City is a district being developed under a joint venture agreement between BCDA and Filinvest Land. The district covers a 288-hectare portion of NCC.[25]

Demographics[edit]

It is planned that the New Clark City will accommodate about 1.12 million residents and 800 thousand workers.[8]

Health and education[edit]

The government is eyeing to build the country's premier research institute in the field of virology at New Clark City by 2021, the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines.[26]

The University of the Philippines plans to open a campus in New Clark City.[27]

On April 13, 2016, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus partnered to establish a large-scale Fabrication Laboratory within the area.[28]

The Technological University of the Philippines signed an agreement with BCDA for the establishment of TUP Center for Industrial Development and Productivity.[29]

In 2020, the National Academy of Sports (NAS) system, a soon-to-be government-run sports academy was established with the signing of Republic Act No. 11470 on June 9, 2020, by President Rodrigo Duterte. The NAS is a body attached to the Department of Education. The main campus will be set up at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.[30]

Transportation[edit]

Public transportation[edit]

New Clark City is connected to other areas in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone through the Clark Loop, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system serving NCC, Clark International Airport, and other developments in the economic zone.[31] It was opened in time for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.[32]

New Clark City station, a planned railway station in the area, will be served by the Philippine National Railways' North–South Commuter Railway, connecting NCC to Metro Manila.

Highways[edit]

New Clark City will also be served by the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway and Central Luzon Link Expressway specifically through the 6.98 km (4.34 mi) six-lane New Clark City-Mac Arthur Access Road which will connect the NCC to MacArthur Highway.[33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Datu, Carlo Lorenzo (January 23, 2018). "Construction of National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City begins". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved December 30, 2019. New Clark City, BCDA’s most ambitious project to date, is a new metropolis that will rise within the Clark Special Economic Zone, in Bamban and Capas, Tarlac.
  2. ^ "New Clark City | Bases Conversion and Development Authority".
  3. ^ "Construction of P1.7-T Clark Green City to start next year - BCDA". InterAksyon. Philippines News Agency. December 13, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Canivel, Roy Stephen C. (October 16, 2019). "'Crazy' New Clark City dream moves closer to reality". business.inquirer.net.
  5. ^ "Judging of Entries for the CGC Conceptual Master Development Plan has Begun!". January 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "Clark Green City Approved by Congress". Clark Green City. Bases Conversion and Development Authority. March 21, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Cervantes, Ding (January 21, 2016). "Clark Green City insulated from politics, says BCDA". The Philippine Sta. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Kabiling, Genalyn (April 11, 2016). "P607-billion Clark Green City to rise soon, expected to be bigger than BGC". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  9. ^ "New Clark City short on US participation — DoF". BusinessWorld. September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Go, Beatrice (November 19, 2019). "2019 SEA Games: World-class New Clark City stadium built in 'record time'". Rappler.
  11. ^ "Athletes witness construction of world-class facilities for 2019 SEA Games | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "BCDA, Agri dept to put up agro-industrial hub at New Clark City | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020.
  13. ^ a b New Clark City, Central Park (July 23, 2021). "One of largest public parks in PHL to rise in New Clark City". BCDA.
  14. ^ a b "Clark Green City". Invest Philippines. Philippine Government. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ^ "Green City is in Tarlac, not Pampanga, UP prof says". The Daily Tribune. June 4, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c Remo, Amy (February 17, 2018). "Rise of the new city". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "Capas National Shrine – Official Website of Municipality of Capas, Province of Tarlac". www.capastarlac.gov.ph. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  18. ^ "Military Shrines Service". Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. November 5, 2004. Archived from the original on November 5, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Dancel, Raul (January 23, 2018). "Manila builds S$3b administrative centre as 'back-up city'". Straits Times. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  20. ^ Datu, Carlo Lorenzo (January 23, 2018). "Construction of National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City begins". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "30th SEA Games officially closes in New Clark City". GMA News Online.
  22. ^ Navarro, June (August 28, 2019). "Preps for PH Asean Para Games 2020 hosting 'on track'". sports.inquirer.net.
  23. ^ "New Clark City to host Asian swimming championships". December 9, 2019.
  24. ^ "PH to host 11th Asian Swimming Championships in 2020". cnn.
  25. ^ "Filinvest breaks ground for green, future-ready township in New Clark City". Bases Conversion and Development Authority. May 8, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  26. ^ "Virology research institute to be built in New Clark City | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020.
  27. ^ https://resilience.up.edu.ph/resilient_campuses/resilient-campus-plan-up-clark-green-city/[dead link]
  28. ^ "BusinessWorld | Philippine Science HS to locate lab facility in Clark Green City". www.bworldonline.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  29. ^ "New TUP training campus to rise in Clark Green City".
  30. ^ Parrocha, Azer (June 11, 2020). "PH sports academy to help develop world-class athletes: Andanar". pna.gov.ph. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "CDC continues to provide free rides in Clark". SUNSTAR. April 16, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  32. ^ Dec 2, Mia Rodriguez; 2019. "PSA: Here's How to Get to New Clark City for Free". SPOT.PH. Retrieved February 19, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Atencio, Peter (November 27, 2018). "New Clark City-Mac Arthur Access Road". Manila Standard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.

External links[edit]

Media related to New Clark City at Wikimedia Commons

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