On 20th year, BCDA zooms in on infrastructure

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority ushered in 2012 by starting infrastructure work that would link Subic, Clark, Bataan, La Union and Baguio City, after consolidating all of its subsidiaries in 2011 under a new brand—the Bases Group.

BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova said an efficient transportation backbone connecting all BCDA-run economic zones would help the agency develop underutilized assets in Clark and Bataan, as well as encourage the movement of people and goods, spurring economic growth.

BCDA turns 20 years old on March 13. Republic Act 7227, the law that created the agency, tasks BCDA to convert all former US military property into government economic centers, and finance major projects, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program.

The construction of roads connecting Metro Manila to the Clark and Subic freeports in Central Luzon, and the new highway linking these to La Union and Baguio by 2013, was the start of the process, Casanova said in a briefing here last month.

Casanova said the next step is to convert the airport in Clark into the “Clark Global Gateway” and accommodate spillover traffic from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Bases Group’s infrastructure plan focuses on the modernization of Clark airport to accommodate 7 million passengers by 2015 and start the construction of the gateway terminal by 2014.

BCDA also intends to pursue a railway project, hoping to shorten travel time between Metro Manila and Clark, he said.

In 2009, BCDA was worth P115.4 billion, based on the value of its estate and due to the proceeds from the operations of the 301-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone here; the 240-hectare Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City; the 27,000-hectare Clark Special Economic Zone and 4-hectare Clark Freeport; the Newport City in Pasay; the Poro Point Freeport Zone in La Union; and the 365-hectare Bataan Technology Park.

The 30,539-hectare Subic Bay Freeport, which was also formed by RA 7227, is operated by another agency, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

This year will be devoted to completing the major infrastructure backbone of all BCDA-administered economic zones, Casanova said.

“We had planned to connect the Bonifacio Global City to the Clark airport through a railway project. For that reason, we created the NorthRail project, which was enmeshed in a lot of controversy that should serve as a lesson to all of us… But we still want to do [a railway project that would reduce travel] from Metro Manila to Clark [down to] 45 minutes,” he said.

The Bases Group’s infrastructure plan proposes to complete the railway by 2018.