BCDA taps experts for Clark Green City dev’t

MANILA, Philippines - State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has bolstered its pool of experts for the Clark Green City development.

This was after 100 government executives recently completed a Singapore-sponsored green city development course.

“We recognize the need for urban planners in the country who can actively address the blows of climate change to human society,” BCDA president Arnel Casanova said.

“The wheels to develop the country’s most modern urban core are now in motion and we have the drivers to steer the wheels in the right direction,” he added.

The training course was jointly funded by the city-state’s Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.

It involved courses in urban policy, governance, and green city development, where Singapore has been globally recognized.

Casanova said he hoped the course gave state employees insights on how to better develop the 9,450-hectare Clark Green City in Pampanga expected to house 1.12 million residents.

The project is expected to house energy-saving facilities to ensure adaptation and resiliency to climate change and its resultant natural disasters.

“We are doing (this) in our desire to build this new city for the Filipino people, a city that can combat climate change, decongest Metro Manila and expand opportunities for economic empowerment,” Casanova said.

He said the training program has allowed the BCDA to build a core group of local government leaders and competent urban planners.

Aside from housing over a million residents, Clark Green City is also seen to be home to 800,000 workers who would contribute a gross output of P1.57 trillion annually to the economy.

This accounts for around four percent of the country’s economic output.