Clark-Subic eyed as new Philippine capital

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2016/02/23/clark-subic-eyed-new-ph-capital-458912
• Tuesday, February 23, 2016

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- Australian businessman Peter Wallace has suggested that the Clark-Subic area be made the country’s new capital.

Wallace said this during the 51st General Membership Meeting of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) held at the Golden Pavilion of Fontana Leisure Estate here on Tuesday.

"I'm suggesting to you that Clark and Subic become the new capital of Philippines," he told PamCham officers and members.

The area has all the necessary attributes like the deep water and large and well protected harbor of Subic and the wide aviation complex of Clark International Airport, according to Wallace, chairman and chief executive officer of the Wallace Business Forum.

“So it can be done. So it makes a lot of sense to decentralize Metro Manila up to here,” he said.

An estimated 12 million people occupy 620 square kilometers of land in Metro Manila which is declared as 15th most dense city in the world, Wallace said.

“Metro Manila is one of the most dense cities in the world. It also has the worst traffic [condition] on earth,” he added.

Aside from these, Manila is also predicted to be flooded 50 years from now because of climate change, he said. “One or two, three meters of water rise in the ocean, Manila will be under water.”

“So we have to move. Manila has to move. One of the most dense cities growing and growing. Almost five million are coming in, not enough roads and no railways,” Wallace said.

He also stressed the need to construct a fast railway which will connect Clark airport to Metro Manila and other points in Central and Northern Luzon.

“If we have Clark as the next international airport which will come soon and connect it with fast rail from here to there,” Wallace said.