CLARK FREEPORT—A Malaysian company has been given Original Proponent Status (OPS) of the planned development of a 60-hectare National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, amounting to P12.7 billion.
This was announced by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in a statement it released on Tuesday, stating the issuance of a Certificate of Successful Negotiation that confers the OPS to MTD Capital Berhad also signals the opening of the competitive (Swiss) challenge for the development.
The BCDA said interested proponents may participate in the competitive challenge to be its joint-venture partner by submitting their letter of interest to apply for eligibility, and submit a proposal to the BCDA Joint Venture Selection Committee for NGAC and purchasing the eligibility documents starting November 10.
Pursuant to the BCDA 2017 Joint Venture Guidelines, MTD Capital Berhad has the right to outbid the declared best proposal from the private-sector challengers, the statement said.
A Pre-Eligibility Conference will be held on November 24 at the BCDA Corporate Center. Submission of eligibility documents is scheduled on December 11.
The BCDA is set to announce the final winner in January 2018.
The MTD Capital Berhad submitted its unsolicited proposal earlier this year. Among the salient features in its proposal are the construction of an extension office for the Philippine President and executive buildings, site development for embassies and international schools, construction of housing for government employees, building sports facilities, a central communications and security-command center, public schools, a government hospital, a public library and community centers.
The NGAC is envisioned to house satellite offices of various government agencies. The future development will include an Integrated Operations Center and Disaster Risk and Recovery Center that will serve as a back-up (redundancy) facility to provide continuous business and service by the national government. It will also house sports facilities, including housing for athletes for the national training center.
The Phase 1A of the establishment of the NGAC is projected to be completed by the end of 2019.
The New Clark City, BCDA’s most ambitious project to date, is a new metropolis that will rise within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Capas and Bamban, Tarlac. It is envisioned to be the country’s first and only smart and green city which will feature mixed-use real-estate developments, an agro-industrial park and a food-processing terminal.
The New Clark City complements other BCDA’s big-ticket projects including the Clark International Airport expansion and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway aimed at providing interconnectivity in the whole archipelago, and provide an efficient mass transportation for Filipinos.