Malaysian firm wants to replicate Putrajaya at New Clark City

Chrisee Dela Paz
Published 7:15 PM, October 16, 2017
Updated 7:15 PM, October 16, 2017
https://www.rappler.com/business/185482-bcda-mtd-capital-berhad-clark-putrajaya-philippines

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Monday, October 16, announced that it received an unsolicited proposal from MTD Capital Berhad to establish the New Clark City National Government Administrative Center through a joint venture agreement.

MTD Capital Berhad is an investment holding company with 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 BCDA said that under the proposal, MTD Capital Berhad will finance the project, as well as provide technical and engineering expertise for the construction, operations, and maintenance of the New Clark City National Government Administrative Center.

“All of its components, salient features, and terms shall be subject for thorough review, negotiations, and approval of BCDA,” the state-run agency said.

Like Putrajaya, the proposed national government administrative center in Tarlac is seen to house satellite offices and major administrative offices of various departments and agencies.

Putrajaya serves as the federal administrative center of Malaysia.

As part of its proposal, MTD Capital Berhad will also construct an extension office for the Philippine president and executive buildings, as well as develop sites for embassies and international schools.

The proposed Putrajaya-like government center in Tarlac is also expected to have housing for government employees, sports facilities, a central communications and security command center, public schools, a government hospital, a public library, as well as buildings for community centers.

The BCDA said MTD Capital Berhad’s proposed site plan for the 1st phase of the project costs P17 billion. The agency said the 1st phase will cover 50 hectares of the 207-hectare total area.

“MTD Capital Berhad’s proposal follows the practice of other progressive countries such us Putrajaya in Malaysia and Sejong City in South Korea by establishing national government administrative centers outside the country’s capital — helping ease traffic congestion and overpopulation in the metropolitan area,” the BCDA said.

New Clark City will rise in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Capas and Bamban, Tarlac.

The BCDA envisions it to become the country’s 1st and only smart and green city, with mixed-use real estate developments, an agro-industrial park, and a food processing terminal.

Aside from New Clark City, the BCDA is also implementing projects such as the Clark International Airport upgrade and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, aimed at providing interconnectivity to Manila.

MTD Capital Berhad has operations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Chile, and China. – Rappler.com