Affordable housing eyed in New Clark City

NEW CLARK CITY — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and real estate developer AMA Land Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), eyeing to make New Clark City the next housing opportunity for Central Luzon.

BCDA president and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang and AMA Land chairman emeritus Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V signed the MoU on 13 June as both parties agreed to explore and study new affordable housing opportunities in the growing metropolis.

The MoU sets a collaborative framework for conducting feasibility and business case studies for a potential affordable housing project in New Clark City.

Bingcang said the partnership aims to combine the two organizations’ resources and expertise to develop sustainable and inclusive housing in New Clark City, aligned with their shared goal of building vibrant communities while promoting environmental stewardship and long-term economic growth.

“Together, we will explore how to design homes that are not just affordable, but well-connected, climate-resilient, and empowering — homes that allow working families to live near jobs, education and opportunity,” Bingcang said.

Under the MoU, AMA Land agrees to share its technical expertise and lead the technical assessments, feasibility studies, and business case preparation for the housing project.

Upon completion of these studies, AMA Land will provide recommendations on the project, with a focus on sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity in the housing design. These recommendations aim to ensure the project offers a diverse range of housing options to accommodate different income levels and family sizes.

“This MoU signifies more than just a formal agreement; it represents a shared vision and a concrete step towards addressing critical needs within our nation. The partnership between BCDA and AMALI seeks to address the critical challenges of housing shortage and climate change. Our goal is to design and develop affordable housing projects and sustainable communities within New Clark City,” said Aguiluz, who also serves as the Special Envoy to Japan for Trade and Investments.

New Clark City is envisioned as the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis, thoughtfully designed to reflect the principles of sustainability and inclusivity. At its core, the district is being developed as a people-centered community — designed to improve the quality of life for Filipinos, empower local communities, and drive economic growth.

The development of affordable housing in New Clark City supports the Marcos administration’s efforts to close the country’s housing gap.

This is also aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, particularly the strategies to establish livable communities.

Aside from this collaboration with AMA Land, the BCDA has made broad steps to establish affordable and sustainable housing options in New Clark City.

In July 2023, the state-run firm signed an MOU with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, formalizing their partnership under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH).

Earlier this year, the BCDA also signed a lease contract with South Korea-based Saekyung Unitless Co. and Philippine-based Sta. Clara International Corp. for the development of a 6.1-hectare affordable housing project in New Clark City, with support from the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corp.

The P4.8 billion housing development will feature 3,320 units, a portion of which will be earmarked as subsidized units under the government’s 4PH Program.