3 minute read
Filinvest’s township project in the New Clark City
By Suzanne Ramos
AA smart city’s main goal is to improve people’s quality of life by ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability in all its endeavors. With the help of new technological breakthroughs, smart cities aim to provide and integrate potentially effective and sustainable solutions to urban problems, while improving policy efficiency, socio-economic development, connectivity, accessibility, and mobility, and maximizing social inclusion, to name a few.
One of the key elements of a smart city is its ability to preserve the wellbeing of its people by giving them a place where they can work, live, and play— and, at the same time, provide their basic needs such as an efficient transportation system, urgent medical services, shelter, and business opportunities, among others. A smart city is nested in an environment filled with opportunities and resources.
Filinvest in New Clark City
In 2016, Filinvest formed a joint venture with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for the development of a 288-hectare, mixeduse land in the New Clark City, Tarlac. Only three years later, in 2019, Filinvest broke ground on its new township project in the smart city.
The project, which is nearing completion, is a mixed-use industrial development, envisioned as a strategic center of economic activities. It is expected to attract local and international investors, and to create an environment that is centered on an industrial park. The park would showcase modern technologies, created to enhance estate livability, sustainability, and branding.
The industrial park will have four main districts: 1. the Research and Development district (a campus-type development, which targets locators that will provide support to the Innovation Park), 2. the Lifestyle Mixed-Use District (developments within the city’s key locations, composed of hotels, office buildings, and commercial establishments), 3. the Commercial Mixed-Use district (business developments with commercial establishments on the lower floors, made up of local and global brands), and 4. the Residential district (where lowdensity condominium developments are located).
Why New Clark City?
Filinvest chose the New Clark City as its township project’s location because it is the first “real” smart city in the country. The New Clark City was always an enticing proposition, specially considering other aspects, like the sports facilities and the National Government Administrative Center.
The township project is unique, wherein Filinvest was given a chance to build something without the constraints of a congested city like Metro Manila— in other words, it was like creating something on a clean canvas. Through the New Clark City, Filinvest was given the opportunity to plan and future-proof their development without the need to retrofit modern technologies.
Filinvest Innovation Park during pandemic
Filinvest is on its way to completing its 120-hectare Filinvest Innovation Park, a world-class industrial park within an accessible, sustainable, and future-ready township. And while the pandemic has been causing delays in the construction and real estate industries, Filinvest has been able to keep their deadlines.
During the early stages of the lockdown, Filinvest had to suspend construction works in the township project—like any other infrastructure project. When they were allowed to resume work, they made sure to comply with the health and safety protocols imposed by the country’s health experts.
As of December 2020, the initial land development of the Filinvest Innovation Park Phase 1 (FIP Ph1)— around 62 hectares in gross land area and one hectare average lot size—is already 99% complete. This includes the construction of the interior roads, perimeter fence, drainage lines, and land development works in FIP Ph1.
Soon, the whole of FIP Ph1 would be done. Once finished, the Innovation Park shall house businesses in the line of light manufacturing, logistics, storage, warehousing, cold storage, and food processing.
In the months to come, Filinvest would see itself achieving one of its main goals: improving people’s quality of life.
