Singaporean engineering giant to help design New Clark City

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) have tapped Singapore’s largest engineering firm to help in the development of New Clark City.

Together with JOIN, BCDA signed Monday a memorandum of cooperation with Surbana Jurong. The Singaporean firm will help draft the development management framework, design standard and environmental guidelines to complement the master plan for New Clark City.

The 9,450-hectare New Clark City is envisioned to be a new metropolis that will rise in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Capas and Bamban, Tarlac.

Surbana Jurong, a wholly owned company of Temasek Holdings Singapore, was formed through the merger of renowned urban planning and affordable housing leader Surbana International Consultants and industrialization corporation Jurong International. It has 50 years of experience in the development of Singapore’s urban, industrial and infrastructure landscape.

BCDA said Surbana Jurong would utilize public-private partnerships to entice investors to New Clark City.

Meanwhile, JOIN president and CEO Takuma Hatano recognized the significance of the Manila-Clark Railway (PNR North Railway) project as one of Japan’s biggest projects in the Philippines. The 106-kilometer alignment will connect Tutuban, Manila, to the Clark International Airport and New Clark City.