First judiciary regional center breaks ground in New Clark City

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) broke ground on its first judiciary regional center in New Clark City.

In a statement, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said the judiciary offices in New Clark City were in line with the government’s aim to develop alternative cities to decongest Metro Manila and help promote growth outside the capital a reality.

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin said the New Clark City is a very promising location given its proximity to major infrastructure like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, the Subic seaport, and the Clark International Airport being positioned as the country’s next global gateway.

“We will establish here a fully functioning SC,” he said.

“We proposed to build here several buildings, the most important of which would be alternative halls of justice for when Manila will be hit by [a] disaster,” he said.

Last July, the BCDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the SC to use a 5.8-hectare area in the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City.

Under the MOU, a regional office of the SC would be built which would have an archive center, data center, and a training center with living quarters.

In addition, the regional office would have dedicated areas for the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan.

A detailed development plan for the judiciary complex is scheduled to be finished within the year.

Construction, meanwhile, will begin next year.

BCDA is promoting New Clark City as the country’s first smart and green city.

Of the 9,450-hectares of New Clark City,  3,500 hectares would serve as buildable area, and  6,000 hectares would be green and open spaces.

Development of Phase 1 A of New Clark City covers the NGAC, which will house satellite and business continuity offices of government agencies.

In addition, Phase 1 A covers facilities such as the 20,000-seater Athletics Stadium, 2,000-seater Aquatics Center, an Athletes’ Village and a 1.4-kilometer River Park Corridor to be used for the country’s hosting of the South East Asian Games next month.