BCDA group drafting unified infra, dev’t plan

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority and its subsidiaries are working on a unified master plan that will map out their strategies for development and identify priority infrastructure projects.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the BCDA said the master plan—which would cover all of the government firm’s land holdings and other properties—should be ready for implementation in 2012.

The master plan’s centerpiece projects include the Clark International Airport, the San Fernando Seaport and Airport in La Union and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

BCDA and its subsidiaries, dubbed the Bases Group, will also be undertaking a number of railway systems, including the South Metro Manila monorail loop system and the Metro Manila-Clark Special Economic Zone high-speed rail system.

BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said all priority projects to be included in the master plan would fall under six areas: regional development and urban planning; infrastructure; marketing and promotions; social development; support to Armed Forces modernization; and business, tourism and trade and investments.

Under regional development, he said the group wanted to make the Clark freeport and special economic zone, Poro Point freeport, John Hay special economic zone and Bataan technology park more sustainable and globally competitive. They would also be made “banner components” of the country’s tourism infrastructure by 2014.

In the area of infrastructure, the Bases Group sought to complete the construction and development of the Clark International Airport complex, including the terminals and support facilities. By 2015, the new airport complex should be able to handle 5-7 million passengers a year.

The group would also work for the completion of the San Fernando airport located inside the Poro Point freeport so it could serve as a feeder airport for Clark by 2013. A seaport would also be developed at the same time.

A high-speed railway system linking the Clark airport to Metro Manila should also be in place by 2018. This would be carried out under the supervision of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

On the business, tourism and trade and investments side, the master plan would map out the development of the Clark freeport as “the fulcrum of Central Luzon,” with Clark Development Corp. spearheading the development of the business, industry, tourism and leisure markets within the freeport by 2015.

The Bases Group is composed of the BCDA, Clark Development Corp., Clark International Airport Corp., John Hay Management Corp., Poro Point Management Corp., North Luzon Railways Corp., Bataan Technology Park Inc. and BCDA Management and Holdings Inc.