BCDA: World Bank supports Clark Green City project

MABALACAT CITY - The World Bank has expressed support to the Clark Green City project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

In a statement, BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Casanova said the World Bank supports the agency’s plan to make the green city disaster-resilient.

Casanova said he recently met with World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change Rachel Kyte who expressed support to the BCDA in developing the Clark Green City “to cope with the effects of climate change.”

Kyte was in Manila for the World Economic Forum.

The meeting was also attended by World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi and senior World Bank executives.

“We are very happy and excited to work with the World Bank to build the country’s first smart, green and disaster-resilient metropolis,” Casanova said.

According to him, World Bank will assist the BCDA in the area of innovation and sustainable green development.

“World Bank will help the BCDA link with centers of excellence and institutions to learn the best practices in making Clark Green City disaster resilient,” Casanova said.

He added t hat t he World Bank will also link the BCDA with the best managed cities of the world to learn from its best practices.

Casanova said the meeting also highlighted the need to plan for the Clark Green City-Metro Manila corridor or the area between Clark and Metro Manila as it will play a vital role in the country’s development.

The funding of green initiatives in the BCDA project through the World Bank’s Climate Change Fund was also discussed during the meeting, according to Casanova.

Casanova said the conditions are ripe for the creation of a new metropolis in Central Luzon citing that the region contributes almost 10 percent to the national economy.