Clark Green City eyed as int’l education hub in Asia Pacific

Map of Clark, Pampanga / Wikipedia Photo

MANILA — The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) eyes Clark Green City (CGC) international education and research center in Asia Pacific, BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said in an interview.

“It’s being already done. International schools are moving to Asia. You have Yale (University), University of Chicago in Singapore. We’re trying to encourage them because the Philippine has a competitive advantage when it comes to education,” Casanova told reporters.

He mentioned that BCDA is now inviting top universities both here and abroad to locate in CGC — its newest and largest development in Central Luzon

“We want the brand schools, the best schools to locate there. We need to improve also, increase the level of education and research and innovation in the Philippines,” he stressed.

He added that the country is very attractive for American brand of education, citing the current education system in the Philippines was first established by the Americans and the medium of instruction here is English.

The BCDA chief said there are also an increasing number of foreign students in the country.

The government-owned firm allocates the first phase of CGC for government, central business district, industrial, and academic centers.

Currently, BCDA is in talks with three local schools — which include University of the Philippines (UP) — to locate in CGC.