CLARK FREEPORT — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) recently signed an agreement with renowned urban planner Palafox Associates (PA) to develop a new master development and business plan for the Clark Freeport Zone.
CDC President and CEO Noel F. Manankil signed the agreement with Felino Palafox, Jr., founder of PA. The new Master Development Plan (MDP) will make the Freeport more marketable, effective, viable and in harmony with the recent, current and planned developments for Clark, to include the Clark International Airport and Green City development.
The new MDP and its concomitant business plan will leverage on the potentials of Clark to incorporate environment friendly, smart and resilient ‘green initiatives’ to its current status as a modern industrial estate and premier service and logistics hub in the region, Manankil said.
Palafox Associates is known for its architecture, master planning, and/or urban design of islands, provinces, cities, municipalities and towns, retail and entertainment centers, golf course communities, commercial, office, institutional, industrial, residential, and tourism estates and mixed-use development projects of high-, medium-, and low-rise buildings.
The master plan will also take into consideration the expiring 25-year lease contracts of the initial batch of locators and the current thrust of the Duterte administration on infrastructure developments in Central Luzon. In light of the expirations of lease contracts, the MDP would optimize the development potentials of Clark without compromising the economic, environmental and social integrity of the Main Zone with the surrounding areas, Manankil said
The proposed new MDP will also include Subic-Clark Corridor and consider a total integrated master plan not just for Clark but for the entire Corridor (Clark Civil Aviation Complex Area, CFZ, Clark Special Economic Zone and New Green City).
The new development plan will also use the current land use plan for Clark airport complex prepared by French firm Aeroport De Paris in support with the proposed development plans in infrastructure, equipment, and additional flights at Clark airport on the development of the airport as domestic flights hub.