THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed agreements to study the feasibility of developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plant and a shared underground information and communications technology (ICT) network in New Clark City.
New Clark City is BCDA’s 9,450-hectare planned metropolis in Tarlac.
The studies are part of the agency’s preparations for future investment and business growth in the area.
The first agreement was signed with Malaysian energy developer Blue Vista Berhad and US-based power solutions provider Westfield Resources LLC. It covers a proposed 40-megawatt LNG-fired power plant.
The partners will assess its technical and commercial feasibility, environmental and regulatory requirements, financing options, LNG supply and logistics, and potential connections to the power grid.
The proposed plant aims to lower electricity costs and replace diesel generation with a lower-emission fuel while providing reliable power independently of the main grid.
Westfield Resources president and CEO Neil Gonzales said the project could also serve as a model for similar power developments elsewhere in the Philippines.
For the underground ICT network, BCDA has partnered with Philippine technology services provider ComClark Network and Technology Corp., the parent company of Converge ICT.
ComClark will conduct surveys and financial assessments for shared underground infrastructure to support high-speed fiber connectivity for government offices, manufacturing facilities, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) operations.
“High-speed fiber is the essential bedrock for AI deployments, making economic hubs incredibly attractive to global innovators,” said ComClark president and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy.
BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said reliable power and digital connectivity are essential to New Clark City’s development. He stressed the need to assess these requirements early and work with partners to identify viable solutions.
Both agreements are nonbinding and exploratory. Implementation will depend on the feasibility studies, regulatory approvals and final contracts.
BCDA said the initiatives support the government’s efforts to develop resilient economic hubs outside Metro Manila, strengthen energy security, and attract foreign investment along the Luzon Economic Corridor.