DPWH to construct P200M access roads to Clark Green City

The government will construct two access roads leading to the planned Clark Green City, including an initial two-way lane that will be completed within the year.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will implement the road projects, which received an initial funding totaling P200 million, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Monday.

One of the access roads will stretch 2.5 kilometers from the Mac Arthur highway toward the Clark Green City in Tarlac. The first phase of the recently awarded P45.8 million project will be completed within the year.

The first phase covers the construction of a two-way lane with a shoulder and sidewalk, bikelane, concrete curb and gutter, pavement marking, guardrails and signages with provision of streetlights.

"It's all systems go for the access road project and we are very excited. The road will give direct link to Clark Green City that will pave the way for future developments," BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said.

The other project will extend 15 kilometers to link the Clark Freeport Zone and the Clark International Airport to the Clark Green City. It will also connect to the existing Tarlac-Zambales road that leads to the Capas-Botolan road.

The proposed access road, which is currently in the design stage, was allocated an initial construction budget of P150 million. The government expects to bid out the project within the third quarter, according to the state-owned BCDA.

The completion of the access roads will provide better accessibility to the Green City Project and subsequently increase the 9,450-hectare property's value, economic potential and attractiveness to investors, said Casanova.

The project lies within the Clark Special Economic Zone and near the Clark International Airport and Subic Seaport. It is envisioned to become the first smart, disaster-resilient and green city in the Philippines.

Eleven companies have expressed interest to bid for the design of the Clark Green City Business Center and some 45 kilometers of the project's major road network, BCDA earlier announced. —Keith Richard Mariano/KBK, GMA News