CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Clark Green City (CGC), one of the big-ticket projects under President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build”Infrastructure Program, is designed to be the country’s first smart, green and disaster-resilient city.
“Initially, the National Economic and Development Authority Board approved in May 2014 the master development plan, stating CGC will feature commercial and/or financial center while sporting industrial, institutional and residential zones. Furthermore, urban farmland and public realm are also included in the picture,” Bases Conversion and Development Authority Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Leilani Macasaet said.
CGC is also expected to be disaster-resilient because its lowest elevation is 56-meter above sea level, so it will not be prone to flooding.
Its central park will serve as a flood catchment basin and water reservoir.
“Since there are no fault lines under and within its vicinity, it is relatively safe from ground rupture. It is also protected from supertyphoons from both sides—the Sierra Madre to the west and the Zambales mountain range to the east,” she said.
“Strategically located, it is 120 kilometers away, from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway, a mere 20 kilometers away from the Clark International Airport, and 90 kilometers from the Subic Bay Freeport,” she added.
Seemingly, CGC will have access to major expressways, such as the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway.
“The city will be covered by the future Manila-Clark railway, a commuter express railway connecting the CGC with Manila and Clark airports,” Macasaet said.
Aside from these, there will also be fiscal and nonfiscal incentives since, as a special economic zone, CGC will offer various incentives to export industries and other locaters/developers as provided by the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995.
“These include income-tax holiday for up to six years for pioneer projects four years for nonpioneer projects and three years for expansion projects; tax- and duty-free importation of raw materials, capital equipment and machineries and spare parts; simplified import-export procedures; and employment of foreign nationals in supervisory, technical, or advisory positions,” Macasaet said.
In terms of green and sustainable development, CGC will adhere to the principles of sustainable development to create the most livable environment possible while preserving the environment and natural resources.
Advanced technology solutions will be seamlessly integrated in the development of the said project to effectively manage its operations.
“Underground utility corridor will house major utility lines for better installation, management, upgrading, and protection from disasters, such as flooding and earthquake. Meanwhile, integrated operations center will coordinate all utility operations and facilitate remote management of various city operations, where reliable telecommunications facilities and Internet everywhere will keep the CGC connected to the rest of the world,” Macasaet said.
In addition, CGC will be accessible to people from all walks of life and foster genuine communities.
“Mixed-income housing will be provided and be made available to all future employees working within CGC. Also, its public realm will be made to be enjoyed by the public. Local farmers and residents, as well as indigenous peoples from the area will be provided with opportunities for livelihood and find their niche in the CGC,” she said.