BCDA, CDC at odds over mall location

The plan of the SM Group to relocate inside the Clark Special Economic Zone has pitted the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) against the Bases Conversion Development Corporation (BCDA).

The dispute stems from the preferred location site of the planned P500-million SM mall.

The SM Group is eyeing a 200,000-square meter site located a few meters from the Salakot entrance of Clark and accessible from the already congested MacArthur Highway and public transportation.

The CDC was already set to sign an agreement with the SM Group last week, but had to postpone it because the BCDA had objected that such a lotion for the planned SM mall could adversely affect the planned masterplan for the Clark airport.

Instead, the BCDA is trying to convince the SM Group to locate at the idle Centennial Expo site which is about nine kilometers from the Salakot entrance and well within Clark.

According to BCDA president and chief executive officer Rufo Colayco, the BCDA will open a much nearer access gate at Mabalacat which is about five to six kilometers away from the Expo site.

He also assured the SM Group that BCDA would allow public transport access within Clark through the alternative circumferential road.

Colayco explained that part of the masterplan for Clark is to make it a vital economic hub. Thus, ensuring road access to Clark is a key to its long-term viability.

Colayco pointed out that once a locator already establishes his site, it would be difficult to have him relocate if does not fit well with the overall masterplan.

The Clark airport masterplan, Colayco pointed out, has not yet been completed.

Neither is there an agreed plan on where the off-ramps for the planned Clark-Subic expressway would be placed.

The issue of SM’s planned site, Colayco said, has been scheduled for further discussion by the CDC board on Aug. 30.

The CDC board is the management corporation of the BCDA for Clark.

Colayco said that his objection to SM’s preferred site is supported by several other BCDA board directors who acknowledge the need to decongest the heavily-used MacArthur Highway. – Marianne Go