By Othel V. Campos | Mar. 11, 2015 at
11:30pm [ manilastandardtoday.com ]
New metropolis in Pampanga
State-owned Bases Conversion and
Development Authority said it is in talks with International Finance Corp., the
private sector investment arm of the World Bank, to assist in developing the
plans for the Clark Green City project.
The Clark Green City project, which
covers some 9,450 hectares in Tarlac and Pampanga, is envisioned to be the
country’s largest property development.
Clark Green City aims to be a modern
metropolis with a mix of residential, commercial, agro-industrial,
institutional and information technology developments that will follow green
standards, such as green building codes, low-carbon footprint and respect for
the ecosystem.
IFC will work with the BCDA in
determining the business case for key utility services, such as power
generation, power distribution, water supply distribution and sewerage services
and solid waste management.
The need for a new metropolis is
driven by a growing population and the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila,
BCDA, the developer of the project, said.
IFC recently worked on the Clark Water
project with Clark Development Corp., the Agriculture Department and Land Bank
of the Philippines for the grains central project.
It has been providing advisory
services on public-private partnership in the Philippines since 1996, including
the privatization of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System concessions,
and has been active in facilitating private investments in off-grid generation
in Marinduque, Romblon, Tablas, Masbate and Basilan.
BCDA earlier said Aecom, an American
engineering and architectural design company, won the open competition for the
best optimized design for Clark Green City’s conceptual master development
plan.
Aecom’s design bested four other
designs submitted by top international and Filipino architectural companies for
the Clark Green City project.
Aecom’s optimized design for Clark
Green City projected some 1.12 million residents and 800,000 workers.
“The design provides a complete mix of
uses. It creates economic vibrancy and at the same time balances it with
natural sustainability,” said BCDA president and chief executive Arnel
Casanova, who headed the panel of judges for the competition.
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