BCDA, Tarlac partner to drive responsible development for Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park

The proposed Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park (CAMP) in New Clark City, Tarlac moved forward with a broader local consultation as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Provincial Government of Tarlac brought together provincial leaders, business groups, academe, civil society, and other stakeholders to discuss the project’s socioeconomic opportunities and environmental and social safeguards.

Held at the Tarlac Convention Center on August 19, the consultation provided a venue for stakeholders to raise questions, share local perspectives, and discuss how the proposed advanced manufacturing ecosystem can contribute to Tarlac’s long-term economic development while addressing environmental, social, and community considerations.

The engagement brought together Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap, Tarlac Vice Governor Estelita “Lita” M. Aquino, members of the Tarlac Provincial Board, municipal mayors, representatives of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the academe, the clergy, and other stakeholders.

The multi-sectoral dialogue forms part of BCDA’s continuing stakeholder engagement as it develops CAMP within New Clark City under the Philippines’ participation in the global Pax Silica initiative. The consultations are intended to bring local perspectives into project planning, particularly on environmental protection, community concerns, land use, infrastructure, employment, and opportunities for local businesses.

“Today’s consultation is part of a series of conversations that have taken place, and will continue to take place, to strengthen this project,” said BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang.

“The Clark Advanced Manufacturing Park is being developed here in Tarlac, so it is only natural that there are questions. BCDA welcomes those questions. We have been listening to concerns about opportunities, the environment, communities, land, jobs, and business, and we are committed to making sure that development is responsible and grounded in the interests of the province,” Bingcang added.

During the consultation, BCDA executives presented the project’s development framework, planned infrastructure, regulatory and environmental compliance processes, and proposed safeguards. Discussions also covered the infrastructure and support systems needed to support advanced manufacturing and connect CAMP to the wider economic ecosystem of New Clark City and the Luzon Economic Corridor.

Tarlac Governor Christian Tell  Yap expressed optimism over the meeting, which he described as the beginning of a series of dialogues with key stakeholders in Tarlac.

“We all want to plan and collaborate para sa ikabubuti ng ating probinsya. So, again, we’re here to listen and hear from BCDA itself kung ano pa ang mga concrete plans para sa New Clark City at kung paano ito makatutulong sa ating probinsya.”

CAMP is being planned as an advanced manufacturing ecosystem within New Clark City, with the aim of positioning the Philippines to participate in higher-value industries linked to semiconductors, advanced technologies, critical minerals, and global supply chains.

The project is expected to create opportunities for high-skilled employment, local enterprises, and supply chain development while strengthening linkages among industry, academe, and the local workforce.

“Tarlac plays a central role in CAMP,” Bingcang said. “The success of this project must also translate into opportunities for Tarlaqueños. We want local talent, businesses, institutions, and communities to have a meaningful place in the growth that this development can create.”

Advancing the national industrialization agenda

The Philippines formally joined Pax Silica in April 2026, opening opportunities to deepen international cooperation, attract investments, expand advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen the country’s position in higher-value global supply chains. The alliance includes the development of a proposed AI-native industrial acceleration hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor, with New Clark City identified as its strategic location.

The initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic agenda of attracting high-value investments, strengthening the country’s industrial base, creating quality jobs, and moving the Philippines further up the global value chain. President Marcos Jr. has identified the Luzon Economic Corridor as a key platform for expanding advanced manufacturing, electronics, and critical mineral processing.

Within this broader national framework, CAMP is envisioned to help translate these opportunities into investments and economic activity in Central Luzon, while creating pathways for Filipino workers, businesses, researchers, and institutions to participate in emerging industries.

BCDA emphasized that stakeholder engagement will continue as project planning and development milestones progress. The agency will maintain dialogue with provincial and local governments, civil society, communities, academe, business groups, and other stakeholders to help ensure that CAMP’s development is responsive to local concerns and aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and environmental and social safeguards.

“Responsible development means listening, addressing concerns, and working with the communities and institutions that will be part of the project’s long-term future,” Bingcang said.

Through its partnership with the Provincial Government of Tarlac, BCDA aims to advance CAMP as an economic development opportunity for the province while ensuring that local perspectives and safeguards remain part of the project’s development.

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