DA plans to build New Clark City agri-industrial hub

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now firming up plans to construct a 30-hectare Agri-Industrial Business Corridor (ABC) at New Clark City, a 9,450hectare community project eyed to become the country’s first ever smart and green city.

For this move, the DA will partner with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which is in charge of the development of New Clark City in Pampanga.

The DA is also studying the establishment of 12 more ABCs at other new economic zones identified by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

This is to entice more and bigger investments in agriculture, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

According to Dar, the first ABC at New Clark City, which will start construction in 2021, has the “potential to jumpstart and sustain economic growth in the ‘new normal’ because of its vast agricultural resources and strategic location that grants access to markets in both northern and southern Luzon, including Metro Manila.”

The facility particularly plans to integrate smallholder farmers by providing them access to resources, including state-of-theart production technology, capital and value-adding facilities.

In particular for the ABC in New Clark City, it will include modern agribusiness and multi-purpose facilities, including a national seed technology park.

It will also complement the planned Clark Fresh Market to be constructed at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex, which will have an integrated post-harvest facility and will cater to niche markets for organic produce, halal-certified, and premium quality food products.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vince Dizon said the ABC, coupled with the fresh market complex, will create thousands of jobs and further expand the development of Tarlac and adjoining provinces in central and northern Luzon.