TUP Center of Excellence to rise in Clark Green City

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said  the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) has chosen BCDA’s biggest development project, the 9,450-hectare Clark Green City, to be the location of its new innovative campus.

The state-owned BCDA signed a memorandum of agreement with TUP for the establishment of a center specializing in industrial and technology skills development in Clark Green City, a master-planned global city within the Clark Special Economic Zone that is envisioned to be the first smart, disaster-resilient and green city in the country.

Casanova and TUP President AdoraPili signed the MOA with BCDA chairperson Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia and TUP vice president for planning development and information  system Ronaldo Juanatas as witnesses.

TUP is a state university mandated to provide higher and advanced vocational, technical, industrial, technological, and professional education and training in the industries and technology, and practical arts leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees.  

“Envisioned to be the knowledge and innovation capital of the country, Clark Green City is the perfect home for this pioneering technological and technical institution,” Casanova said.

 Under the MOU, BCDA shall allocate 20 hectares within Clark Green City for the establishment of the TUP Center for Industrial Development and Productivity (TUP – CINDEP).

“This partnership with TUP will pave the way for a new center of excellence in engineering and technology education and training in the country, that aims to produce globally competitive graduates that would help accelerate economic progress and meaningful social development,” Casanova added.

The chief executive said that this project will likewise complement the development of Clark Green City by training manpower potential in technical, industrial, technological and professional skill development and by providing the necessary human resource support to industries within the city and around the region—developing the Philippines’ vast human capital which is its best asset as a nation.

“We look forward to breaking ground for the TUP Center for Industrial Development and Productivity in the Clark Green City. We see this as a vital asset that will drive the economic and human development of the new city,” Casanova said.

On the other hand, Geotina-Garcia said, "Education empowers and could very well be the only way up and out of poverty and despair.  Thus, in developing Clark Green City, one of our key strategies is to partner with educational institutions to enable the communities in Clark Green City and within the Clark Special Economic Zone to have access to quality education and economic opportunities."

Garcia said Clark Green City is BCDA's legacy for the country. "We are honored to share this legacy with TUP, an institution which already pioneered a legacy of education in the Philippines."    

TUP provides progressive leadership in applied research, developmental studies in technical, industrial and technological fields and production using indigenous materials and effects technology transfer in the countryside.  TUP also assists in the development of small and medium scale industries in identified growth-centers.

“With the expansion of high technology and manufacturing companies like Texas Instruments and the expected investments that are coming in, BCDA is looking for technologies that will help the city in disaster-resiliency, climate change, renewable energy and information and communications or ICTs,” Casanova mentioned. 

“We are also encouraging other international institutions to set up their creative and animation studios, food and agriculture research centers, and campuses inside the Clark Green City as we envision this metropolis to be the learning hub in Asia,” Casanova said.

The chief executive also said that the presence of public universities such as TUP at the Innovative and Academic District of the Clark Green City is part of BCDA’s effort in addressing the need for more educational institutions—making education accessible and affordable to every Filipino especially those living in Central Luzon with the existing population of 12 million growing at 2.7% every year.

Last year, the University of the Philippines (UP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with BCDA for the construction of the UP global campus on a 70-hectare lot inside the Clark Green City.  Under the forged agreement, UP will develop the property into an academic and research campus of the UP System, and operate and manage the said property.

The entire Clark Green City is a 9,450-hectare master planned property within the Clark Special Economic Zone in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. At full development, Clark Green City will have some 1.12 million residents, 800,000 workers and contribute a gross output of approximately P1.57 trillion per year to the national economy or roughly four percent share in the county’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).