The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) of Philippines and
Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban
Development (JOIN) signed a
Memorandum of Cooperation with Surbana
Jurong [1] of Singapore on
February 12, 2018.
The collaboration marks the full implementation of New Clark
City anchored on the Comprehensive Master Development Plan developed by BCDA
and JOIN, in partnership with urban planning and engineering firms AECOM,
Nippon Koei, and Philkoei International Incorporated. (Last year, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer, Vivencio Dizon discussed
these partnerships in an interview
with OpenGov.)
As part of the agreement, Surbana Jurong will assist BCDA
and JOIN in drafting the development management framework, design standard
guidelines and environmental guidelines to complement the masterplan of New Clark City (formerly
Clark Green City).
BCDA is a state-owned enterprise that is focused on
developing former military assets, land assets in particular, into new centres
for growth. New Clark City is one of its major ongoing projects. The
9,450-hectare city is designed to be the country’s first smart,
green, disaster-resilient city, where nature, lifestyle, business, education, and
industries converge, and will be at par with other modern cities in the world.
New Clark City will feature mixed-use real estate
developments for housing, a business continuity centre that would also house
national government agencies, an agro-industrial park and an international food
market. The city will have wide pedestrian lanes, exclusive bicycle lanes, and
an integrated mass transit lane. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be
completed in 2022.
Surbana Jurong will establish the framework for a smart
city concept with fully-integrated infrastructure and utilities for power,
water, sewerage, information and communication technology (ICT), security, and
traffic management.
Surbana Jurong will also help in utilising Public-Private
Partnerships to attract investors to New Clark City and advise in the
implementation plan of pioneer developers in New Clark City such as Filinvest
Land, Inc.’s mixed-use industrial real estate developments, and MTD Capital
Berhad’s National Government Administrative Center.
Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines, Kok Li Peng;
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan Hiroto Izumi; and Philippines’
Finance Secretary, Carlos Dominguez III; and other members of the Cabinet
witnessed the signing led by BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer,
Vivencio Dizon; JOIN President and Chief Executive Officer, Takuma Hatano; and
Surbana Jurong Group Chief Executive Officer, Wong Heang Fine.
“Surbana Jurong is proud to support BCDA and JOIN in
developing New Clark City into the next big metropolis and become a showcase to
the world of a smart and green city. We will leverage our over 50 years of
urban and infrastructure development expertise and our global capabilities to
manage the development of the city, and help the Philippine Government bring
this vision to reality,” Surbana Jurong’s Group Chief Executive Officer Wong
Heang Fine said.
Mr. Wong Heang Fine added that “New Clark City has
tremendous potential, and we are committed to be long-term partners in the
city’s growth. The transformation of this area will bring about sustainable
growth and create jobs locally, and ultimately bring about long-lasting
economic and social benefits for the country. We look forward to working
together with BCDA and JOIN, as well as international investors and local
communities, in making this project a success.”
[1] Surbana Jurong is wholly
owned by Temasek Holdings Singapore. It was formed through the merger of urban
planning and affordable housing leader, Surbana International Consultants, and
industrialisation corporation, Jurong International. It has 50 years of
experience in the development of Singapore’s urban, industrial and
infrastructure landscape.
