The Philippines plans to build a $14 billion 'pollution-free' city that will be larger than Manhattan
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May 8, 2018, 18:37 IST
Over the next three decades, the Philippines aims to build out New Clark about 75 miles outside Manila.
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According to the development's plan, the city will eventually stretch 36 square miles — a land area larger than Manhattan — and house up to 2 million people.
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New Clark will be divided into five districts, each with a specific function: government, business, education, agriculture, and recreation.
While New Clark's exact design is not fleshed out, developers say the urban plan will prioritize environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
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With a minimum elevation of 184 feet above sea level, the city will likely not see much flooding.
To reduce carbon emissions, two-thirds of New Clark will be reserved for farmland, parks, and other green space.
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The buildings will incorporate technologies that reduce energy and water usage.
Driverless cars, running on electric energy rather than CO2-emitting gas, will roam the streets.
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Additionally, the city will feature a giant sports stadium and an agro-industrial park.
New Clark's developers, BCDA Group and Surbana Jurong, plan to start construction in 2022.
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The new city will serve as a "twin city" to Manila, alleviating congestion in the capital, Surbana Jurong CEO Heang Fine Wong told CNBC.
"You'll gradually see Manila becoming a different type of city ... and in New Clark City, you'll see new technology companies coming through," he said.
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The vision for New Clark certainly sounds utopian.
But the ambitious plan faces several challenges, including persuading Manila residents to move there. A new railway line could reduce the travel time between the two cities in half.
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The Philippines also struggles with economic development, and building an eco-city from scratch will come with a hefty price tag. According to Wong, public-private partnerships will help finance the project.
In recent years, countries around the world — especially China — have unveiled plans for pie-in-the-sky urban developments. A number of realized projects have failed to attract a significant population, and turned into ghost cities.
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Building cities from scratch rarely solve existing problems, but designing them can help urban planners imagine what's possible.