Kim (left) and  Bingcang at the MOU signing.   BCDA photo

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korean government agency National Agency for Administrative City Construction (NAACC) for collaboration on the development of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The MOU, signed by NAACC administrator Hyeong Ryeol Kim and BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang in Seoul recently, calls for the promotion of  knowledge sharing and exploration of  collaboration opportunities in the fields of urban planning, smart cities development, green energy, and smart administrative systems for New Clark City.

“With Korea as a global frontrunner in terms of smart administrative capitals, we at BCDA are very fortunate to have NAACC as our partner to facilitate knowledge exchange and link us with experts who can help us transform New Clark City as the Philippines’ alternative national government hub. Through this MOU, we wish to replicate the successes and apply the lessons learned by Korea in relocating administrative agencies and national research and development (R&D) institutes in its administrative capital, Sejong City,” said Bingcang.

South Korea and the Philippines – through NAACC and BCDA, respectively – have both set up satellite government administrative centers outside the capital to help ease traffic congestion and overpopulation in their respective metropolitan areas. 

NAACC has been building the Administrative City in Sejong since 2007, as part of their government’s plan to alleviate the concentration of functions in the Seoul metropolitan area and promote balanced regional development.

In a separate statement, BCDA said central Luzon business groups expressed support to the proposed amendments to Republic Act 7227, the law creating BCDA, which among others will convert a portion of economic zones from leasehold to freehold.

The BCDA said the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PAMCHAM), Clark Investors and Locators Association, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry- Tarlac, Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCI), and the Pampanga Business Development Coordinating Council (PBDCC), have delivered their messages of support for the proposed amendments, as contained in House Bill 8505 and Senate Bill 2647

PAMCHAM president Teresa David-Carlos said the conversion of to freehold is expected to stimulate growth in the housing sector which would provide opportunities for property ownership that will benefit not only people inside Clark, but also other cities and municipalities in Pampanga and Central Luzon. 

 MACCI president Elizabeth Carlos-Timbol also supported the allocation of areas for residential and mixed-use developments, saying this would pave the way for long-term partnerships between the public and private sector for the provision of affordable housing to Filipinos. 

Carlos-Timbol said this would eventually help decongest Metro Manila and bring sustainable growth in other economic zones. 

The business groups also supported the proposal to extend the corporate life of the BCDA by another 50 years. 

David-Carlos said this would create a stable environment for long-term investments, ensuring economic resiliency and continuity.