The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korean government agency National Agency for Administrative City Construction (NAACC) to promote knowledge sharing and explore collaboration opportunities in the fields of urban planning, smart cities development, green energy, and smart administrative systems for the development of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The MOU was signed by NAACC Administrator Dr. Hyeong Ryeol Kim and BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang in September in Seoul, Korea.

“With Korea as a global frontrunner in terms of smart administrative capitals, we at BCDA are very fortunate to have NAACC as our partner to facilitate knowledge exchange and link us with experts who can help us transform New Clark City as the Philippines’ alternative national government hub. Through this MOU, we wish to replicate the successes and apply the lessons learned by Korea in relocating administrative agencies and national research and development (R&D) institutes in its administrative capital, Sejong City,” said BCDA PCEO Bingcang.

South Korea and the Philippines – through NAACC and BCDA, respectively – have set up satellite government administrative centers outside the capital to help ease traffic congestion and overpopulation in their respective metropolitan areas.

“We hope that Korea’s experience in building the Administrative City will be helpful in transforming your former military base into a dynamic and vibrant new city,” said Dr. Hyeong Ryeol Kim.

The MOU signing happened on the sidelines of the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2024, one of Korea’s largest international conferences for the promotion of cooperation in infrastructure, where BCDA PCEO Bingcang also pitched investment opportunities in the fields of renewable energy, clean transportation, and smart cities development, among others.

NAACC has been building the Administrative City in Sejong since 2007, as part of their government’s plan to alleviate the concentration of functions in the Seoul metropolitan area and promote balanced regional development.

To date, Sejong serves as home to 40 central administrative agencies and 15 national research and development institutes, making it the administrative capital of Korea.

Meanwhile, the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City aims to host facilities for the Philippine government, such as offices of various government agencies, government housing units, and sports facilities. The first phase of NGAC includes an integrated government operations center, a government housing facility (The Residences), the Athletics Stadium, the Aquatics Center, the Athletes’ Village, and the River Park.

BCDA has engaged with multiple government agencies to set up offices and key infrastructure in NGAC and parts of New Clark City, including the Philippine Space Agency for its headquarters, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for its coin production and minting facility, the National Academy of Sports, and the Department of Science and Technology for its Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines. (PNA)