As preparations advance for the proposed Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park (CAMP) in New Clark City, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), is strengthening its engagement with communities in the project area through an updated census of families and residents in Sitio Sapang Kawayan, Capas, Tarlac.
The initiative is an early step toward ensuring that development planning is informed by the actual socio-economic conditions, needs, and concerns of communities that may be affected by the proposed project. The updated census will establish a validated community baseline that can guide the identification of appropriate assistance, safeguards, and other measures as project preparations move forward.
Led by NCIP Secretary Nancy A. Catamco and BCDA Officer-in-Charge Senior Vice President for Conversion and Development Group Mark P. Torres, the census update will help establish a more precise database of local families and residents. It forms part of a broader process that includes identification and validation, joint surveys and documentation, review of existing agreements, and the eventual processing and release of appropriate assistance.
“We are building the foundation of the Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park on a principle of shared progress. True development means no community is left behind,” said BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang. “By validating our community baseline early on alongside the NCIP, we want to assure the community that every family receives the exact support, protection, and opportunities they deserve as this vision comes to life.”
The census update builds on BCDA’s continuing stakeholder engagement in Tarlac. In recent weeks, BCDA has conducted dialogues with Tarlac government leaders, local government officials, members of the clergy, academe, and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed CAMP, provide information on the project, and hear local perspectives, concerns, and priorities. These engagements are intended to ensure that development planning considers not only the project’s economic potential, but also the needs and interests of the communities and institutions in the area.
BCDA likewise reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with the NCIP, local government units, and community elders throughout the project preparation process. The agency said continued dialogue and community-level engagement will be integral to ensuring that the proposed development is pursued responsibly, with appropriate safeguards and opportunities for communities alongside economic growth.
These engagements form part of BCDA’s broader commitment to the Marcos Jr. administration’s vision of inclusive economic development, where investments and growth translate into opportunities and better lives for Filipinos, including communities in and around areas where major development projects are being pursued.