Taking BIG, BOLD steps forward in sustainability

By Chrisee Jalyssa V. dela Paz

In October 2022, the World Bank identified the Philippines as the most disaster-prone country in the world due to its vulnerability, high risk, and exposure to calamities and disasters. Two years prior, a new virus had been identified, unleashing a health and economic crisis that was felt across the globe. For over 15 years, Sir David Attenborough, together with other scientists and advocates, has been sounding the alarm on the irreversible tipping points of climate change.

All these factors and circumstances highlight the urgent need to protect the environment, as much as we protect the economy. With urbanization increasing the chances of unlocking communities’ economic potential and safeguarding development gains for generations to come, we must also commit to making it right for the environment and communities.

This is top of mind for the new leadership of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) as it performs its mandate of building great communities while helping strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines. BCDA has instituted its own sustainability unit to ensure all its developments are truly green, inclusive, smart, and disaster-resilient. In its flagship developments, BCDA sees to it that the bulk of the land area is dedicated to green open spaces.

In its latest big-ticket project New Clark City, BCDA, along with its partners, is making the most of a very simple yet critical component: that cities must be made for people. New Clark City follows a 60:40 ratio, where only 40% of the property is buildable. Utilities in New Clark City are also prescribed to be green and sustainable. It has wide dedicated bicycle and pedestrian lanes to promote active transport.

A landmark sustainability plan

The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO), through its Global Future Cities Programme, has helped BCDA address gaps in achieving a truly sustainable New Clark City. In April 2022, the UK FCDO turned over to BCDA an integrated sustainability plan, which includes the design of a 44.8-hectare New Clark City Park— envisioned to be one of the biggest parks in the Philippines—and a 33.89-hectare affordable housing project within New Clark City.

Smart mobility solutions

BCDA has been pitching New Clark City here and abroad to scout for technical experts and partners who can help the state-run organization realize its vision of catalyzing inclusive and sustainable growth for the new development and its environs, one of which is BCDA’s partnership with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan for a three-year demonstration project on smart mobility solutions to be implemented in the new metropolis.

The demonstration project will be executed by a group nominated by NEDO, led by Zenmov Inc., a Japan-based information technology (IT) solutions provider specializing in the transportation sector, to measure and verify the effectiveness of a transport service system that operates via a cloud-based technology platform. Under this project, a new public transportation system called Primary Rapid Transit, an energy-efficient and convenient “last mile” service, will run using the Smart Mobility Operation Cloud.

Another is BCDA’s memorandum of agreement with Enterprise Singapore (Enterprise SG), which aims to explore potential collaborations in areas, such as affordable housing, estate management, transportation, solid waste management, waste-to-energy technology, smart cities, sustainability, green data centers, urban development, and people-centric programs.

Sustainable mixed-use communities

In Fort Bonifacio, BCDA has also tapped the expertise of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which will help the organization develop the areas in and around railway stations being built by the Department of Transportation. These areas will serve as models of the Philippines’ transit-oriented developments (TODs), and prototypes of sustainable mixed-use communities with access to high-quality train systems.

These TODs will serve as the backbone of the transportation network, effectively connecting to feeder systems, such as jeepneys and buses. These will also generate economic, financial, social, and environmental benefits to all stakeholders through efficient urban development around the stations.

Bringing together the private sector’s expertise and efficiency, as well as the public sector’s understanding of local needs is important in developing cities and communities designed to help the people and the planet prosper.

Most importantly, putting all stakeholders, from its locators to project-affected households, at the core of BCDA programs and projects is key to truly committing to a sustainable future for all.

and Industrial Tech(second row, right) on project on smart Ferdinand R. Marcos