MTD Berhad offers to build gov’t center in Clark

Malaysia’s MTD Berhad Capital has submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop a 207-hectare property government office center for estimated investment cost of R121.8 billion in joint venture with the Bases Conversion Develop Authority (BCDA).

In a statement, the state-owned BCDA said the project dubbed as Clark City National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) said MTD Berhad Capital will provide financing of the project.

It will also provide technical and engineering expertise for the construction and operations and maintenance of the NGAC. All of its components, salient features and terms shall be subject for thorough review, negotiations and approval of BCDA.

Among the salient features of MTD Berhad Capital’s proposal include the construction of an extension office of the Philippine President and executive buildings, site development for embassies and international schools, buildings to serve as housing for government employees, sports facilities, a central communications and security command center, public schools, a government hospital, a public library, and buildings for community centers.

BCDA also quoted MTD Berhad Capital saying the national government administrative center will not just house satellite offices but the major administrative offices of various executive departments and agencies.

BCDA said the unsolicited approval is still subject to evaluation, but it also said that its proposed site plan for the first phase of the project will cost R17 billion, covering 50 hectares of the 207hectare total area of the New Clark City government administrative center.

New Clark City is a BCDA flagship project that will rise in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Capas and Bamban, Tarlac. It is envisioned to be the country’s first and only smart and green city, which will feature mixed-use real estate developments, an agro-industrial park, and a food processing terminal.

The New Clark City complements other BCDA big-ticket projects namely, the Clark International Airport expansion, and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway, aimed at providing interconnectivity in the whole archipelago, and provide an efficient mass transportation for Filipinos.

It also said that MTD Berhad Capital’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.

MTD Berhad Capital is a Malaysianbased investment holding company with interest in civil engineering and construction, infrastructure development, real estate & property development, energy, ports, and manufacturing of construction related materials. It is the parent company of AlloyMtd Philippines.