THE National Irrigation Authority (NIA) is seeking to acquire a property at the New Clark City for its future office, the agency’s top official said on Monday.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said in an e-mailed statement that NIA recently submitted a letter of intent for 969 square meters of space the agency wants to occupy at the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.
The NGAC building is managed by BCDA with its development partner MTD Clark, Inc.
“Heeding the call of the President as a requirement in Executive Order 119, the NIA management had decided to acquire a property with the BCDA-MTD NGAC Phase 1,” NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya said.
“This move, significantly, is being one with other government sectors in helping decongest Metro Manila. Moreover, if some disaster hits the metro, the operations of NIA will not be hampered as we will have an office outside of the metropolis which will continue to deliver the mandate of the agency,” he added.
According to BCDA, NIA also intends to acquire a condominium-type unit in The Residences, a condo building for government workers and New Clark City locators, for the agency’s officials or visiting staff.
NIA’s acquisition of such properties is included in the 2022 budget, BCDA noted.
“Should its plans materialize, NIA will be able to strategically position more of its operations in Central Luzon, one of the country’s leading regions in terms of agriculture.”
BCDA announced recently that it is offering a 36-hectare lot within the buffer zone of the New Clark City for long-term lease and development.
The agency said it aims to introduce development within the New Clark City’s buffer zone to maximize its best use “through a lease term of “25 + 25 years.”
“Prospective proponents may submit their expression of interest to BCDA on or before Jan. 14, 2022,” it noted.
The New Clark City, which is envisioned to be the Philippines’ first smart, green, sustainable, and disaster-resilient metropolis, is a 9,450-hectare masterplanned property within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac. — Arjay L. Balinbin
