Drilled since the earliest days of his career to be meticulous, Engrineer Joshua Bingcang’s strong attention to minute details came in handy as he got things done at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the Philippines’ most dynamic government-owned and -controlled city builder.

Since he took the helm as president and chief executive officer of BCDA in June 2023, the organization celebrated major milestones like the opening of a 20-kilometer road connecting New Clark City to Clark International Airport, the inauguration of the Philippines’ first manufacturing plant for advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, and the end to a decade-long legal dispute over the management of a 247-hectare property in Camp John Hay in Baguio.

Indeed, his ingenuity, grit, and adaptability to solve complex business challenges and get things done were instrumental in BCDA’s successes and challenges.

He started at BCDA as a Project Development Officer III in September 1996, he brings to the table decades of institutional knowledge with the BCDA, and know-how in the fields of business development, real estate development, infrastructure development and project management.

A native of Pampanga, Bingcang holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines. He took part in the Executive Training Program in Urban Policy and Governance of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and in the training on Public-Private Partnership from the Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts, USA.

Prior to his stint as the BCDA chief, he led the completion of some of the organization’s biggest projects: the Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway, the development of Clark Freeport Zone, the first phase of the National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City, and the expansion of Clark International Airport.

Born and raised in Pampanga, Bingcang understands the needs of local communities affected by BCDA’s development projects.

Under his leadership, BCDA’s first few big, bold moves for Clark are to ensure that the current and future workers can live near their workplace through inclusive and affordable housing, address the need for more efficient connectivity through building transit-oriented developments in and around Clark and expanding the capacity of the Clark International Airport to cater to mega investments from across the country.

Academic and government institutions like the National Academy of Sports, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, and the Philippine Space Agency are setting up offices and campuses in New Clark City.

Big names from different industries here and abroad, like Hann Development Corporation, Banyan Tree Group, Skyblue Golf Course, Narra Technology Park, Filinvest, and StB Giga are also forging ahead with their developments in New Clark City.

In the past few months, the BCDA Group made strides as it signed three global logistics giants — FedEx, UPS and Lufthansa to expand in Clark.

In New Clark City alone, Bingcang told Daily Tribune’s weekly show Straight Talk, that the new metropolis has attracted P143.22 billion worth of investments since its master plan was finalized in 2017. About P18 billion of which were already infused in the new metropolis.

One Clark vision

Looking ahead, the BCDA chief said during that his organization is aggressively pushing the development of New Clark City, Clark International Airport, and Clark Freeport Zone to position the whole of Clark as Asia’s next investment and tourism destination.

This forms part of BCDA’s ongoing efforts to support the Marcos administration’s 8-point socio-economic agenda as reflected in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

“This will give us the scale that will put Clark on par with — if not ahead — of development projects in its ASEAN neighbors,” Bingcang said.

“Right now, we are gearing to implement more game-changing projects, some of which are crucial to the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor, a massive joint undertaking of the Philippines, US, and Japan,” Bingcang said in the interview.

These are the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway Project, the expansion of the Clark International Airport, and the Clark National Food Hub.

“These BCDA projects will help position the region as a key player in the nation’s economic transformation.”

Skilled at collaborating to collectively address challenges, Bingcang understands that it takes an interdisciplinary team with a diversity of skills and expertise to create success. This is why he has established and continues to build BCDA’s network across the public and private sectors, both domestic and foreign.

For instance, the BCDA is set to sign a deal with a Japanese firm to develop another industrial hub in New Clark City. It has also signed partnerships with Korean experts for the development of inclusive housing within the metropolis, among other smart city initiatives.

BCDA is driving forward an ambitious portfolio of projects designed to redefine urban living in Central and Northern Luzon.

Among these projects are the development of 44.8-hectare New Clark City Central Park, Clark integrated public transportation system, multimodal transport hubs and transit-oriented development, industrial parks, the smart estate management of New Clark City, a district cooling system, as well as the establishment of a passive ICT infrastructure in New Clark City to ensure enhanced internet connectivity for its existing and future locators.

A world-class medical facility in Clark, which will be partially opened in two years, will make medical treatment faster and more accessible to those who wish to live and/or work in the metropolis.

“The core principle behind our developments is simple but profound — cities must be designed for the people who live in them and the planet they inhabit. This commitment ensures that Clark will thrive for generations to come, balancing growth with sustainability,” Bingcang said.

By developing smart and livable cities, we can continue fulfilling our commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the nation’s armed forces.

From May 1993 to December 2023, BCDA’s contribution to the AFP reached P59.71 billion. Of this amount, P48.59 billion is earmarked for the AFP Modernization Program and P11.12 billion for the replication of military facilities in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City and Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.