Three global logistics firms to set up facilities in Clark —BCDA

At least three global logistics firms are expected to invest billions of dollars to set up facilities in Clark and mark the area as a hub for Asian operations, the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) said Tuesday.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang declined to identify the three firms citing non-disclosure agreements, but said that these are foreign companies that are expected to generate some P1 billion in government revenues.

“They will bring in more revenues but for me, what’s important is the brand image they will bring. For the longest time kasi, naba-bypass tayo ng (we are being bypassed by) Vietnam, Thailand for this kind of foreign direct investments,” he told reporters in Makati City.

“With this being there, seal of approval ‘yan ng foreign investment choosing Clark and basically Philippines. Also the jobs, high-skilled labor, thousands diyan, 3,000 to 4,000 ang ine-expect namin na (are what we expect in terms of) jobs for the three,” he added.

The three logistics firms — set to be announced in March —  will be located in a 20-hectare area in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, with the masterplan accounting for up to eight companies. The area is also situated close to the Clark International Airport.

“Global operations nila ‘to, so it’s just so that they chose Clark to be their Asian hub going to Japan, Singapore, Korea, and even China, Hong Kong, ganon ang daloy ng mga eroplano nila, up to 18 planes,” Bingcang said.

(This is for their global operations, so they chose Clark to be their Asian hub going to Japan, Singapore, Korea, and even China, Hong Kong, that will be the direction of their planes, up to 18 planes.)

Bingcang said the BCDA is also in close coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to ensure that the movement of goods in and out of the country will be streamlined in line with global standards.

“Kasi movement of ano ‘to eh, (Because this is the movement of) goods, kailangan makasabay sila sa (it needs to keep up with the) global supply chain movement, so make sure that the local regulatory environment regime is supportive and conducive to these kinds of businesses,” he said.

The BCDA is mandated to help strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while building cities. It is also engaged in public-private partnerships to boost public infrastructure such as tollways, airports, seaports, and major real estate developments.

It recorded a total of P4.226 billion in remittances in 2023 — P3.551 billion in asset disposition proceeds, P527 million in dividends, and P147 million in guarantee fees — which the agency seeks to surpass this 2024.

The agency on Tuesday also said it contributed P78.34 billion AFP initiatives from May 1993 to October 2023 — P48.59 billion to the AFP Modernization Program, and P29.75 billion for the replication of military facilities.—AOL, GMA Integrated News