Public housing rises in New Clark City

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and MTD Philippines Inc. on Thursday held a symbolic topping-off ceremony at The Residences, a 525-unit condominium type housing in New Clark City for the use of government employees and other locators.

Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, Tarlac 3rd District Representative Noel Villanueva, Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan and representatives from the House Committee on Bases Conversion graced the event.

Officials of the government agencies which will soon have their offices in New Clark City also attended the event. These include Development Bank of the Philippines chairman Albert Romulo, DBP president Cecile Borromeo, Landbank Leasing Corp. president and CEO Manuel Lopez, Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Kristoffer James Purisima, UP-Philippine Eye Research Institute director Dr. Leo Cubillan, Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Engr. Roseller Tolentino and Officer-in-Charge of Philippine Retirement Authority Central Luzon Scarlet Lachica.

Representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee were also present.

The Residences is an integral part of the government’s response to President Duterte’s vision to decentralize state offices in Metro Manila and solve the congestion problem in the capital.

Around 1,000 government employees will benefit from the 525-unit housing facility which will have modern amenities. The project is significant for the government employees who will be the first occupants of New Clark City, the first smart and disaster-resilient city in the country.

In the long run, an estimated 1.02 million residents are expected to populate New Clark City and 582,000 of these will belong to the city’s workforce.

The topping-off ceremony of The Residences complements other developments in New Clark City such as the world-class sports facilities to be used for the 30th Southeeast Asian Games and the provision of reliable water and power utilities in the new metropolis.