The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Monday it secured four agreements with Australian companies in the field of smart city solutions to accelerate the Philippine economy and create more skilled jobs.
BCDA president and chief executive Joshua Bingcang said the deals were part of the $1.53-billion investments signed during the Philippines Business Forum held during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australia in early March 2024.
“These agreements will help not just the BCDA but the whole country to navigate toward a safe and sustainable future in terms of digital transformation and renewable energy transition. Through these deals, we will also be able to drive inclusive economic growth and create more high-quality employment opportunities for those living within the economic zones we operate,” Bingcang said.
The agreements are expected to attract foreign capital and business expertise to the Philippines, particularly in critical sectors like information and communications technology (ICT), energy and infrastructure.
One key agreement is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kaizen ANZ Pty. Ltd. for the development, design, construction, commissioning and funding of a Tier-3 Data Center in Poro Point Freeport Zone, La Union.
The deal will provide the Philippines with a robust and scalable infrastructure for secure and efficient data storage and processing capabilities.
Another MOU signed with St. Battalion GigaFactory Inc. focuses on expanding next-generation battery manufacturing in the Philippines.
This aims to increase output from 600-megawatt-hour (MWh) to two gigawatt-hour (GWh) by 2030. The company also plans to build at least four more ready-built factories in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, generating an additional 500 jobs.
Energy Decarb Pty Ltd. signed up to deploy decarbonization solutions in New Clark City and other BCDA properties. The company will integrate renewable energy, storage and e-mobility solutions to reduce energy costs and reliance on traditional power grids.
BCDA also signed an MOU with Passenger Urban and Rapid Vehicles Solutions Inc. to explore the potential of providing electric vehicle fleets within its properties. This would encompass the design, installation, and operation of fast-charging stations.
New Clark City is a 9,450-hectare greenfield development envisioned as an inclusive, resilient, sustainable and smart city within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone. Poro Point, meanwhile, is a 236.5-hectare prime location for investment and tourism in North Luzon, with access to an airport, seaport, and other tourism facilities, including the 65-hectare Mediterranean-inspired Thunderbird Resorts.