Army, BCDA forge pact for Clark Green City project

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): Army, BCDA forge pact for Clark Green City project

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija -- The Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division (7ID) and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Clark Green City project, a ranking military official said on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Pio Catapang, Jr., commanding general of the 7ID, said the MOA aimed to further the ties between the two government organizations and cater to the progress of the Clark area in Pampanga.

Catapang said that prior to the actual signing of the MOA, a briefing on Clark Green City project, which aims to create a bigger and better Fort Bonifacio-like developed area, was held.

Under the MOA, it was mandated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the 7ID, which holds responsibility of the Clark-Tarlac areas, to ensure the security of the area and the execution of the project.

Dubbing Pampanga as the heart of Central Luzon, Catapang said he was happy to have known of the proposed projectwhich will cut off the remaining remnants of insurgency in the said province.

"Actually, there is no more insurgency, only extortionists. They have lost their ideology. Insurgency is dead and we are now heading to peace, development, and prosperity," he said.

He said there is no more internal security threats but rather threats coming from outside like global warming, international crime which includes human smuggling, arm smuggling, cybercrime, drugs, and maritime security.

He also said that the 7ID is now deviating from just fighting the local extortionists but focusing on contributing to the development of Central Luzon.

The 7ID is willing to fully collaborate on the progressive project as it will benefit and safeguard not only the modernization of the 45,000-hectare military camps under 7ID the but also the entire nation, he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=522880