BCDA, WB-IFC in talks for Clark Green City development

MANILA, Philippines - State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is in discussions with the World Bank’s private sector arm International Finance Corp. (IFC) for assistance in development plans for the Clark Green City.

According to the BCDA “IFC is looking at working with the BCDA in determining the business case for key utility services such as power generation, power distribution, water supply distribution and sewerage services and solid waste management” in Clark Green City.

The Clark Green City, which covers 9,450 hectares within the Clark Special Economic Zone in the province of Tarlac and Pampanga, is being developed to be the country’s first smart, green and disaster-resilient metropolis.

The project is envisioned to be a modern metropolis with a mix of residential, commercial, agro-industrial, institutional and information technology developments in compliance to green standards such as green building codes, low carbon footprint and respect for the ecosystem.

The first phase of the development will cover 1,300 hectares, to be subdivided into several plots of land covering around 200 to 300 hectares each to allow many parties to participate in the project.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said earlier the plan is to bid out the development rights of three parcels of land covering about 200 to 300 hectares each in the Clark Green City this year.

The BCDA is looking for firms interested to enter into a joint venture corporation with the state-run firm for the development of a 254-hectare portion of the Clark Green City, the first of the three parcels to be offered for bidding this year.

At full development, the Clark Green City is expected to have some 1.12 million residents and 800,000 workers.

The IFC has been providing advisory services on private-public partnership in the Philippines since 1996 through the privatization of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System concessions as well as in facilitating private investments in off-grid generation in Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate and Basilan.