SINGAPORE --- Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Delfin Lorenzana is keen on learning a thing or two from his counterparts here to transform Clark freeport and special economic zone into a booming metropolis like Singapore.
In an interview with reporters, Lorenzana said he would meet a "big development company" to discuss strategies to make his goal of transforming Clark freeport a reality.
Lorenzana is here as a member of the delegation of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s two-day State Visit to Singapore.
"Dahil malaki ‘yung ating real estate na dine-develop diyan sa Clark, about 9,000 hectares ... kaya ako nandito (Because we're developing a vast 9,000-hectare real estate in Clark, that's why I'm here)," he said early Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The former Defense secretary said partnering with Singapore was a good strategy based on what they could do with the country.
"Kasi itong Singapore, malaki ‘yung karanasan na mag-develop ng area na maganda. Katulad ng Singapore, maganda ang pagkakagawa nila rito. Maliit lang na area pero they built a very modern metropolis (Singapore has a great experience when it comes to developing land. Like Singapore, they did a good job here. It's a small area but they built a very modern metropolis)," Lorenzana said.
‘Yan ang gusto nating makuha sa kanila, mai-transfer sa atin ‘yung technology tsaka ‘yung knowledge at skills sa pag-develop ng ganitong klaseng magandang achievement (That's we want to learn from them. We want to get their technology, knowledge, and skills in developing this kind of achievement)," he added.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana said he would join President Marcos in Wednesday's roundtable meeting with Singapore's business community.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said that two agreements on counterterrorism and data privacy are expected to be signed during Marcos' visit here.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said President Marcos' visit "reaffirms the warm and longstanding ties between Singapore and the Philippines, underpinned by strong cooperation across many domains and flourishing people-to-people ties."