BCDA chief invites Australian firms to invest in Central, Northern Luzon

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) invited Australian firms to invest in Central and Northern Luzon, particularly in the area of infrastructure, among others, to help decongest Metro Manila, which it said would help attract more investments into the country.

Last June 26 to 30, the Philippine delegation, which included the BCDA, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD), Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) conducted investment briefings in the cities of Sydney and Brisbane in Australia to attract more investments, particularly for Central and Northern Luzon.

In a statement released on Tuesday, BCDA said the investment briefings attracted almost 90 companies from different sectors, including manufacturing, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, urban development, automotive, information technology and education.

During the investment briefings,

BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana discussed the “aggressive infrastructure” push of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which BCDA said is seen to help decongest Metro Manila, generate investments, and create job opportunities for the people.

“Part of this massive infrastructure program is New Clark City, a 9,450-hectare greenfield development poised to be the country’s first smart, green, and sustainable metropolis,” BCDA said, adding that it is easily accessible due to its proximity to the Clark International Airport and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Moreover, the investment roadshow zeroed in on the Subic-Clark corridor, a prime logistics hub accessible via air, sea, and land.

BCDA said the hub is an “emerging” center of economic growth just north of Metro Manila. In addition, the authority said the Subic-Clark corridor enjoys “close proximity” to the Clark International Airport (CRK), which it said is positioned to be Asia’s next premier gateway.

“As an important gateway, CRK is linked to Manila in the south, to Subic in the west, and to the rest of Luzon. By 2025, tourist arrivals are expected to increase and Clark will serve as a major entry and exit point for Northern Luzon,” Chairman Lorenzana said.

According to the BCDA, the investment briefings also gave Philippine authorities the opportunity to pitch the Poro Point Freeport Zone, a “secure” peninsula town in San Fernando, La Union, which it said is envisioned to become a center of innovation in Northern Luzon.

“This special economic zone serves as one of the landing sites of the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure project, which aims to provide affordable, high-speed internet access throughout the country. It also has its own community airport and seaport, making it an ideal investment destination,” BCDA added in its statement.

For her part, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega invited Australian businesses to