BGC-type business district eyed in Pampanga with new highway project

A new central business district is set to rise in Clark, Pampanga following the construction of a new access road that aims to boost connectivity in Luzon, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Wednesday.

The 20-kilometer Airport to New Clark City Access Road (ANAR) project is expected to reduce travel time between Clark International Airport and New Clark City from one hour to 20 minutes. It will also be toll-free.

“Gusto natin gumawa ng next BGC pero mas maganda. We’ll call it Clark Central Business District and it will create more than 170,000 jobs. ‘Yan ang prediction namin dyan,” said BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcaing in GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon’s Joan Ponsoy’s report on 24 Oras.

(We want to create the next BGC (Bonifacio Global City) but more beautiful. We’ll call it Clark Central Business District and it will create more than 170,000 jobs. That’s our prediction.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier led the inspection of the P8.28 billion project and called on the BCDA to ensure its completion.

“This Clark International Airport to New Clark City Access Road or ANAR is a key component in boosting the Clark Metropolis as an investment and tourism destination. It aims to enlarge Clark’s profile in the global investment map,” he said.

The carriageway of the connector road was completed in December 2023 but bike lanes, linear parks, pedestrian lanes, landscapes, and slope protection have yet to be added to the ANAR project. It is expected to be fully operational by July.

“This connector road, modest as it is, will play a major role in harnessing the full commercial and economic potential of the New Clark City, the whole Clark area, and neighboring communities,” BCDA Chairperson Delfin Lorenzana added.

The 20-kilometer project, with a cost of P8.42 billion, serves as a dedicated access road with the goal of enhancing connectivity across Luzon, aiming to revolutionize travel and trade between Central and Northern Luzon, Metro Manila and Clark International Airport.

The road includes a 900-meter bridge over the Sacobia River in Bamban, Tarlac that showcases both engineering prowess and environmental sensitivity.

The ANAR project seeks to alleviate traffic congestion and boost economic growth by improving travel efficiency across Luzon, connecting major urban centers and transportation hubs.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News