Clark, Pampanga is repositioning itself as the aviation capital while its Central Luzon neighbor is also underway to become the next premier economic hub, tracing the footsteps of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

New Clark City, an ongoing community development project in Tarlac launched in 2016 by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in partnership with the National Development Council (NDC), was conceived in response to the challenges posed primarily by the tropical climate and the country being prone to natural disasters.

Once completed, New Clark City will emerge as the country’s “first green, smart, sustainable and disaster-resilient metropolis.”

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and CEO Joseph Alcazar pointed out that realizing the vision would be possible with the help of foreign investors.

“We’ve been in close coordination with different chambers, the American Chamber, the European Chamber. And there are a lot of interests, really, in terms of investing in Clark, especially that we’ve shown them our flagship projects that we want to implement not just within the Clark Aviation Capital, which is under CIAC’s jurisdiction, but also within CDC (Clark Development Corp.), the main zone, and the New Clark City. There are strong international interests,” Alcazar said.

CIAC officials recently met with the undersecretary of the United States Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and foreign investors to discuss potential investments.

Unlocking new doors

Expanding business reach is a clear path to unlocking more opportunities for success which is true with the aim of increasing travelers passing through the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Hastening the development of New Clark City in Tarlac is expected to open new avenues for more investments and tourism prospects.

To the newly-appointed CIAC chief, this can add to government’s efforts to make areas outside the National Capital Region more accessible through shorter travel time while decongesting Metro Manila.

Key to capital’s decongestion

“One of the primary objectives is to help decongest Manila. You build this development, you progress within Clark, then I believe that it will help decongest Manila. Have people from that part of Luzon to be based in Clark, then provide them equal opportunities as they would get here in Manila,” he said.

An extension of BCDA’s master plan for Clark called transit-oriented development (TOD) is designed to tap into the economic potential of sections close to public transport hubs. According to New Clark City’s website, this addition will create “sustainable communities enveloped by mixed-use developments and open green spaces” by way of sustainable, multimodal transport systems.

“For Clark, BCDA plans to develop two multimodal transport hubs with the TOD model, supported by an extensive road network connecting Clark Freeport Zone and New Clark City, as well as surrounding cities and towns,” it read.

BCDA’s priority for this phase of development is to incorporate direct access to the airport and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

“One critical infrastructure is a direct access from SCTEX. You might say, ‘SCTEX is okay’. You have your north and Clark exit. It’s already spacious, but it will take you around 10 minutes from SCTEX to get to the terminal or to the development. So, part of the plan is really to have a direct access link to SCTEX,” he said.

“When the rail system is there, it supports all the people going in and out of Clark, reinforcing the fact that it can be a major transport hub. Besides that rail terminating there, there are also plans by the government, which is in the final stages, of developing a freight rail network. That’s a program of the national government. When you have that, then there’s a free flow of trade already. That’s really the target within the next three years,” he added.

Emulating BGC

Bonifacio Global City is BCDA’s first military base conversion project that created a world-class, technology-forward complex boasting top-of-the-line entertainment and recreation strips that never fail to keep visitors coming back for more.

The former military base is also a domestic and international business hotspot that goes neck-and-neck in economic productivity with its neighbor, Makati.

Taking BGC as an example, Alcazar shared that one of the key developments that attracted outside interest is the strategic placement of academic institutions that cater to non-Filipino residents in the area.

“The strategy, I believe, of BCDA at that time was [that] they have sort of an education area where ISM, BSM, the Japanese international schools are. And then those were one of the first few developments there,” Alcazar said.

“And the schools — the international schools — I believe [that] the primary purpose of that is, again, to enhance BGC as a center of business and trade because the foreign companies willing to invest in the Philippines, the expats, one of the first things they look for is, ‘Where will my son study?’ Right? So what I’m saying is, BGC started with key infrastructures to attract the investors, to attract the people, the locals in Metro Manila coming to BGC,” he added.

Like BGC, New Clark City also aims to be tech-savvy through digital infrastructure, which Alcazar says, who has a background in the said profession, stands on good infrastructure and tech providers.

“Before you can run a smart city, you should have good infrastructure. So, in our horizontal development, we will have common facilities. Together with our development, we will put the common facilities there for the docks to be there. And the providers, if and when they want to come in, they will be provided spaces there, commercially,” Alcazar said.

“Two terabytes [have been] given to the government of the Philippines, 500 of which will be maximized by BCDA, and it goes to Clark. It goes to the properties of BCDA. So in terms of having, it’s part of the national broadband plan. In a way, the private (sector) can support [us by] providing key digital infrastructure, your telcos. The government also will have a stake in putting key digital infrastructure there. When you have that, then you can have your other vertical layers to be able to run a truly smart city.”

Although Clark is still far from achieving state-of-the-art status, Alcazar remains hopeful that improvements will be reflected before the end of the current administration.

“We want to see something concrete and something that is there already by the end of the President’s term,” he said.

Currently, the completed facilities available in New Clark City are its Athletics Stadium, an Aquatics Center featuring an Olympic-sized swimming and diving venue, and a government building for residency.

Facilities undergoing development in the 9,540-hectare complex include a river park, a condo-style residential establishment, and a 525-unit housing complex for athletes.

Travel hub

As part of the Vision 2040 for the Philippines, Clark is being developed into a dynamic hub that blends aviation, logistics, commerce, and sustainable development through the Clark Aviation Capital project.

Central to this ambition is the Clark International Airport (CIA), which has rapidly become a vital part of the country’s aviation infrastructure.

With the vision of becoming the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul capital of the region, Clark Aviation Capital is laying the groundwork for the servicing of aircraft and engines. The area is already positioning itself as a key player in the aviation industry, attracting aviation-related businesses and industries.

Clark is also focused on other key sectors that will drive its long-term growth. One of the major initiatives is the development of the National Food Hub, which will strengthen the Philippines’ food security and improve logistics and agricultural production capabilities. This aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goals for national food security, while also creating export opportunities for local farmers.

Moreover, the city is set to become a global center for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions, drawing international business tourism. This entertainment and convention hub will complement the city’s aviation sector, creating a balanced ecosystem where aviation, logistics, tourism, and entertainment converge.

The vision for Clark’s future also includes connectivity enhancements, particularly the soon-to-be-completed rail link that will connect Manila to Clark International Airport. This addition will significantly boost the city’s attractiveness as a business and logistics center.

As for the collaboration within Clark’s aviation ecosystem, the CIAC works closely with key stakeholders such as LIPAD, the private entity managing the airport, as well as the Department of Transportation and BCDA.

Together, these organizations ensure that Clark’s aviation infrastructure meets both national and regional needs, driving the success of the entire Clark Aviation Capital initiative.

Ultimately, Clark is on course to be a central business hub in the Philippines, and with its blend of aviation, logistics, technology and sustainable development, it promises to be a critical driver of the country’s economic growth for decades to come.