New Clark City has taken the global media limelight again, as one of New Zealand’s biggest news websites cited it as the Philippines “backup capital city”.
In a recent broadcast on its various platforms, Stuff, which has a 2 million unique audience per month, stated that the New Clark City is an alternative to Metro Manila.
The report was made in view of climate change marked by hot weather and typhoons that hit the Philippines. It was filed by its senior reporter Lisette Reymer who visited New Clark City in Tarlac province.
“The increasingly extreme weather has prompted the country to take extreme action that (is) now building a backup capital city and can withstand the threats of a hotter world,” the broadcast report stated.
Describing Metro Manila and its residents as “vulnerable” due to an average of 20 typhoons per year and other disasters, the narrative went on to emphasize Philippine government plans to have back up capital.
It showed an interview with Dr. Rodel Lasco, a climate specialist who underscored the importance of disaster and risk management.
Aside from typhoons and other types of disasters, New Clark City was designed to be an alternative seat of government in the event that Metro Manila suffer “the big one” — a huge earthquake that might paralize key government services and operations.
For his part, Engr. Jake Bingcang, president of Bases Conversion Development Authority, cited New Zealand for being green and sustainable (place).
BCDA is the sole government agency mandated to operate and manage New Clark City being located inside a reverted baseland.
A little under 10,000-hectare, the New Clark City, about 115 kilometers north of Metro Manila, is the site for National Government Administrative Center. It has standing contracts to host the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Space Agency, Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippine Science High School, and the Technological University of the Philippines, among other government agencies.
It also has the Athletics Stadium, Aquatic Center, Athletes Village, UP-PGH Sports and Wellness Center, the National Academy of Sports. It has hosted various regional and international events like the SEA Games.
Aside from sports and government administration center, it is also an investment destination. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in November last year, led the opening of a ₱7-billion battery plant for electric vehicles put up by StB Giga from Australia.
New Clark City will also host tourist and resort complexes. One of which is the Hann Reserve, a 450-hectare eco-sanctuary luxury resort which initial development is pegged at ₱17 billion.
To accommodate influx of residents and workers that would reach 600,000 at its peak, BCDA has also started to sign accords for housing projects.
Stuff is a news media website owned by newspaper conglomerate Stuff Ltd . As of 2024, it is said to be the most popular news website in New Zealand, with a monthly unique audience of more than 2 million.
Aside from Stuff, various regional and international media outfits and renown vloggers and influences have also featured New Clark City.
