APL.DE.AP E.I. REYMOND T. OREJAS/INQUIRER C. LUZON
CLARK FREEPORT—Apl.de.ap, a member of Grammy award-winning The Black Eyed Peas, has become the official endorser of Clark Green City (CGC), a new 9,450-hectare metropolis being developed by the government-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in former US base lands in Capas town, Tarlac province, north of here.
Apl.de.ap, Allan Pineda in real life, signed a memorandum of agreement with BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova, which commissioned Pineda’s Singapore-based Apple Tree Group Ptd. Ltd. to handle the promotion of CGC as industrial, commercial, business, tourism, educational and residential centers.
“I am from here. I am Kapampangan. I believe in the future and the development of Clark, [which] should be one of the destinations for the Philippines,” the musician said.
In a text message, Pineda said: “I envision an innovative green city for the future that will create employment for Kapampangan and Filipinos.”
President Aquino endorsed CGC in his State of the Nation Address in July, saying it may become the “center of commerce and industry, not only in Central Luzon but the entire country.”
CGC is one of the public-private partnership projects that have been approved by the board of directors of the National Economic and Development Authority.
When developed, CGC will be much bigger than Bonifacio Global City, which the BCDA developed in Metro Manila. “What used to be a remote [area] will be filled with opportunities,” Casanova said, adding that the President’s endorsement “further energized us to bring CGC to reality.”
But in separate interviews, Tarlac Rep. Noel Villanueva and Capas Mayor Antonio Rodriguez said the BCDA should address the potential displacement of thousands of people, including the Aeta and Aberling tribes, once the project gets under way.
Asked about this, Casanova said, “I am not aware of 60,000 people being displaced. For more than 20 years, no development has happened in that area. It is time for all of us to unite to bring inclusive development to Tarlac and the entire region.” Tonette Orejas, Inquirer
Central Luzon