CAPAS, Tarlac—The 200-hectare National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) at the New Clark City (formerly Clark Green City) here broke ground on Tuesday, with high-ranking officials of the national government in attendance.
Phase 1-A of the P13.16-billion NGAC project involves the development of backup offices of various agencies to ensure continuous business operations and services in case of disaster or natural calamities. There will also be a one-stop shop for all businesses located in Region 3.
The center will also be of great significance to the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games the Philippines will be hosting.
A world-class Sports Complex with an aquatics and athletic center will be completed in less than two years and will serve as a venue for the athletics and water-sports events of the 30th SEA Games scheduled on the last quarter of 2019.
The stadium will have a seating capacity of 20,000, while the Aquatic Center shall have a seating capacity of 2,000.
Once completed in 2019, the project’s Phase 1-B will begin with the construction of additional government office buildings, government housing units and support-service facilities on a 20-hectare land.
Small-scale retail and services facilities, including banks, health centers, and hotels, will also be put up in adjacent zones.
MTD Capital Berhad of Malaysia won the bid to build the government hub after submitting its proposal to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and undergoing the “Competitive Challenge.”
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 that will feature mixed-use real-estate developments, an agro-industrial park and a food-processing terminal.
High-ranking officials of the government led by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Transport Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark BCDA President Vince Dizon graced the groundbreaking ceremonies together with local officials led by Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap, Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan, Bamban Mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano and Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda.
Also present were Sen. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva; Reps. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, Albee Benitez and Pia Cayetano; Presidential Management Staff Head Ferdinand Cui; Undersectaries Rene Solidum, Cathy Cabral and Karen Jimeno; and Finance Assistant Secretary Paola A. Alvarez.