NEW CLARK CITY
TARLAC
Philippines
New Clark City is a master-planned, green, smart, and disaster-resilient metropolis in the Philippines located within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Central Luzon. It covers about 9,450 hectares and is designed to accommodate up to 1.2 million residents with a focus on sustainability, connectivity, and liveability.
The modern master-planned metropolis is rising in the municipalities of Capas and Bamban, Tarlac. It is officially envisioned as the Philippines’ “first smart, green, and disaster-resilient city.” New Clark City was conceptualized by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in 2012 as a direct response to the environmental vulnerabilities of Metro Manila. Prompted by devastating typhoons like Ketsana (2009) and Haiyan (2013), the project aims to build a disaster-resilient community on safer, higher ground. It is envisioned to be both a new economic driver and a potential backup administrative centre for the national government.
Future Cities criteria compliance
Environmental & Nature
The masterplan preserves over 60% of the city’s 9,450-hectare area as green space. Key features like the 44.8-hectare Central Park double as flood catchment basins, while the design prioritizes non-motorized transport and mixed-use developments to minimize environmental impact.
Smart City
Envisioned as a “smart” metropolis, the city plans to leverage technology for efficient management. Through partnerships like the UK’s Global Future Cities Programme, it is building frameworks to integrate innovative systems for running urban services.
Human-Centric
The design promotes walkability and community over car-centric planning. A central goal is ensuring inclusivity by developing strategies for affordable housing and integrating the existing local community, with a focus on participatory design for public spaces like the Central Park.