Planting of trees, hope at Clark
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga- Launching a 100-day countdown to the opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games),the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) led Thursday the planting of 100 trees in sites around the New Clark City Athletes’ Village here.
The BCDA said the activity was dubbed “100 Trees for 100 Days” and consisted the planting of narra, bignay and dita trees which were planted by its employees, as well as personnel of business partners, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), Capas local government unit and police, and the Philippine Army.
Arrey Perez, the BCDA vice president for business development and PHISGOC deputy director general for the Athletes’ Village, said the event “symbolizes the planting of hope.”
“We have not come this far to only go this far. We are here because we only have 100 days to go before a major event, the SEA Games. But more than that, we gather today to plant trees for our future, especially our youth,” said Perez.
“This is part of BCDA’s legacy to do small things that will last,” he added.
BCDA vice president for investments promotion and marketing Joanna Eileen Capones said: “BCDA is committed to develop New Clark City consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Today’s event shows that our partners, our communities, and our stakeholders share that commitment with us. We work as one, we win as one.”
Nick Nicholas David, president of infrastructure developer MTD Clark Inc. said “this is the first area we developed with BCDA to ensure there is biodiversity and a good environment in building a city.”
MTD Clark, Inc. is the local unit of Malaysian firm MTD Capital Berhad, BCDA’s partner in constructing Phase 1A of New Clark City, which is already 96 percent finished.
New Clark City is envisioned to be the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis.
It is also the site of the new and worldclass sports complex that will be used during the SEA Games. Part of the facilities are the 20,000-seater Athletics Stadium, the 2,000-seater Aquatics Center, and the 525-bedroom Athletes’ Village.