Going smart Agnes Devanadera, president and CEO of Clark Development Corp., is interviewed by ‘Business and Politics’ host Dante ‘Klink’ Ang 2nd at the SMNI Studios in Makati City. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA
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A “SMART” city will be developed in Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) Chief Agnes Devanadera said.
“We have a proponent working on the smart city. It was affirmed and confirmed by the national government of Korea that they are really interested in Clark,” Devanadera said on SMNI’s “Business and Politics” program hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dante “Klink” Ang 2nd.
The city will rely heavily on cutting-edge technology, Devanadera said.
Investing in advanced technology is high on the agenda of CDC since it does not require huge land space, she said.
“Residential units inside this smart city will be equipped with high-technology devices,” she added.
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Clark has been recognized as an emerging business hub in Central Luzon and the country’s premier tourist destination.
While the Philippines has several freeports and economic zones, South Korean firms prefer Clark, where there is a community of around 30,000 Koreans, Devanadera said. To discuss further plans for the project, a delegation from the Korean government is arriving in the country this week.
Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone encompasses Pampanga and Tarlac provinces and several cities and towns immediately outside Clark.
CDC is a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). “Its mandate is to be the estate manager of Clark. We issue business permits, check land use and stuff like that. CDC is like the LGU of Clark,” Devanadera said.
CDC remitted P1.2 billion in cash dividends to the national government in 2022, she said.
The amount is 63.8 percent higher than the P717 million it remitted in 2021.
“I can say that Clark is really ready for more tourism developments as we have been one of the top destinations in Central Luzon. We now have a lot of five-star hotels, casinos, golf courses and environmental parks,” Devanadera said.
While ease of doing business through automation has been her priority for improving tourism in Clark, she said CDC is now focusing on its top four priorities: electricity, water, mass transportation system within Clark and connectivity.
“Increased power rates have been one of the issues and we call this [addressing power problems] heightened readiness,” she said.
CDC also wants more point-to-point buses plying between Clark and North and Central Luzon.
A new terminal building opened at Clark International Airport last year, and a skyway and railway are being built.
