MTD Capital Bhd offers to develop and finance a RM10 billion national government administrative centre in New Clark City, says a Philippines’ authority.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), an agency under the office of the president, said it had received the proposal from MTD Capital Bhd to establish a “National Government Administrative Centre” (NGAC) through a joint-venture agreement.
The project, estimated to cost of 121.8 billion pesos (RM10 billion), would be sited in New Clark City in Tarlac province, the BCDA said.
It would cover some 207 hectares on land that formerly came under the Clark Air Base where the US operated a military facility before completely evacuating it due to the nearby Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991.
BCDA is a national development agency mandated to transform former US military bases into alternative productive civilian use.
In its proposal, MTD Capital said it would provide financing for the project, as well as technical and engineering expertise for the construction, operations and maintenance of the centre, the BCDA said.
“All of its components, salient features and terms shall be subject for thorough review, negotiation and approval of BCDA,” the BCDA said in a recent statement.
It said the proposal followed the practice of other “progressive countries” in establishing NGACs outside their capitals, thereby helping ease traffic congestion and overpopulation in the metropolitan areas.
Besides Putrajaya, it also cited Sejong City in South Korea as an example.
“According to MTD Capital Bhd, the national government administrative centre will not just house satellite offices but (also) the major administrative offices of various executive departments and agencies,” it said.
The proposal’s salient features included the construction of an extension for the president’s office and executive buildings, development for embassies and international schools, and buildings to serve as housing for government employees, it added.
It would also have sports facilities, a central communications and security command centre, public schools, government hospital, public library and buildings for community centres.
New Clark City, BCDA’s flagship project, was known as Clark Green City under former Philippine president Benigno Aquino III, who was succeeded by current president Rodrigo Duterte in June last year.
The first phase of the proposed NGAC project would cost 17 billion pesos (RM1.4 billion) and cover 50 hectares, BCDA said.
Overall, New Clark City is envisioned as the Philippines’ first “smart and green city”, featuring mixed-use real estate developments, an agro-industrial park, and a food processing terminal, it said.
Many of the Philippine central government’s offices, including the hall for the House of Representatives, are currently located in Quezon City in Metro Manila.
Headquartered in Bandar Baru Selayang, MTD Capital has interests in civil engineering and construction, infrastructure development, real estate and property development, energy, ports, and manufacturing of construction-related materials. It is the parent company of AlloyMTD Philippines.
The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.
lagi info di : Gosip Artis Terkini