BCDA grants Philippine athletes permanent access to New Clark City hub
State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will open its competition-grade sports facilities in New Clark City year-round to national athletes, enabling them to compete successfully in international competitions.
In a statement, the BCDA said it entered into a partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to grant long-term access to athletes who wear the country’s flag, particularly those affiliated with accredited national sports associations.
Athletes would be able to utilize sports facilities such as the Athletics Stadium, the Aquatics Center, and the Athletes’ Village. These were built for the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games back in 2019.
BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang said the partnership with PSC ensures that public investment “directly supports Filipino athletes and delivers measurable outcomes.”
“When facilities are fully utilized, athletes benefit, and the public sees clear returns,” he said.
Bingcang said regular access to world-class tracks, pools, and athlete housing, would enable national teams to train with consistency while reducing additional logistical costs.
PSC Chairperson John Patrick Gregorio described the collaboration with the BCDA as a “partnership made in heaven.”
“BCDA develops and manages high-value land and infrastructure, while PSC ensures these facilities are maximized for the training and development of our national teams,” said Gregorio.
Towards this end, both the BCDA and PSC will form a technical working group to jointly manage scheduling, maintenance protocols, and facility standards. This aims to bring transparency in the use of public assets.
The two government entities earlier formed a joint task force to identify BCDA-owned properties that can be developed into top tier training and sports facilities.
New Clark City was identified as one of the priority sites, the other being Baguio City.
The BCDA said integrating the New Clark City into the national sports system not only maximizes the value of government-built infrastructure, but more importantly, positions the site as a high-performance sports hub.
New Clark City, a 9,450-hectare property in Capas, Tarlac is being eyed as the country’s first smart, green, and future-ready metropolis.