To Rise $14 Billion USD "Pollution Free" Hi-tech City of New Clark, Philippines' 95 Km Sq size

New Clark's developers, BCDA Group and Surbana Jurong, plan to start construction in 2022. - BCDA Group

The Philippines is planning a $14 billion 'pollution-free' city that will be larger than Manhattan

Manila, the hyper-dense capital of The Philippines, is known for its traffic jams. In a 2016 survey, navigation company Waze ranked Manila as having the "worst traffic on Earth."

The city's reliance on cars also exacerbates its growing air-pollution problem.

As a possible solution to Manila's smog and gridlock, the country plans to build an entirely new, more sustainable city called New Clark.

Plans for the $14 billion development — which will be larger than Manhattan — call for drones, driverless cars, technologies that will reduce buildings' water and energy usage, a giant sports complex, and plenty of green space.

A rendering of New Clark, a planned city for the Philippines. BCDA Group

BCDA Group Source: CNBC

Over the next three decades, the Philippines aims to build out New Clark about 75 miles outside Manila.

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.

BCDA Group Source: The Inquirer

New Clark will be divided into five districts, each with a specific function: government, business, education, agriculture, and recreation.

BCDA Group

While New Clark's exact design is not fleshed out, developers say the urban plan will prioritize environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

BCDA Group

With a minimum elevation of 184 feet above sea level, the city will likely not see much flooding.

BCDA Group

To reduce carbon emissions, two-thirds of New Clark will be reserved for farmland, parks, and other green space.

BCDA Group - Source: Reuters

The buildings will incorporate technologies that reduce energy and water usage.

BCDA Group 

Driverless cars, running on electric energy rather than CO2-emitting gas, will roam the streets.

BCDA Group 

Additionally, the city will feature a giant sports stadium and an agro-industrial park.

BCDA Group 

New Clark's developers, BCDA Group and Surbana Jurong, plan to start construction in 2022.

BCDA Group 

A new railway line could reduce the travel time between the two cities in half.

In late May, BCDA started the bidding process for companies to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain power and water systems in New Clark City.

BCDA Group 

The Philippines also struggles with economic development, and building an eco-city from scratch will come with a hefty price tag.

BCDA Group 

According to Wong, public-private partnerships will help finance the project.

BCDA Group 

In recent years, countries around the world — especially China — have unveiled plans for pie-in-the-sky urban developments.

BCDA Group 

Building cities from scratch rarely solve existing problems, but designing them can help urban planners imagine what's possible.

The fate of this project is still in the hand of the Duterte Administration as Budget is always required, though this project is feasible but priorities are also queuing.

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Another 10 beautiful Philippine Islands that aren't BORACAY

Top 10 most famous and most beautiful islands in the Philippines that aren't Boracay- Overnight Camping Experience

Just because Boracay is closed for 6 months, doesn't mean that your trip to the Philippines should be cancelled

The Philippines has just closed its best-known holiday island Boracay to tourists for six months over concerns that the once idyllic white-sand resort has become a "cesspool" tainted by dumped sewage.

Here are 10 other islands you can explore instead.

Caramoan Island is a rugged piece of land. It is very rich in greenery and has a large diversity of flora and fauna. It boasts perfect white sand beaches, tranquil lakes, deep caves, coves and rich marine life.

El Nido Palawan is famous for its white sandy beaches as well as coral reefs. A perfect paradise to snorkel and see hundreds of fish species.

Panglao Island, Bohol used to be a very sleepy area. Very quiet. It has now been awakened by travellers looking for amazing beaches. The island offers a diverse array of water activities, like dolphin watching, snorkelling and whale watching just to name a few.

Malapascua Island, Cebu is a charming and small isolated beach paradise. Their resorts are mostly beach bungalows, making you feel like you’ve left the whole world behind.

Malamawi Beach, Basilan Island, Western Mindanao. off Basilan Island, is dubbed a “hidden paradise” of  the ancient settler the Subanen Tribes is no longer hidden today. This is where you can find silky fine, white powdery sand (and a shade of pink sand too, according to CNN). From Zamboanga city you can reach this beautiful island in a 30-minute speed boat.  From Isabela City on the island province of Basilan (nearly twice bigger than Singapore) the resort can be reached in 10 minutes via boat at less than $1 per person. There’s a zip-line adventure and island-hopping adventures, too. There’s a rubber tree plantation on the island too.

Animasola Island, Masbate is one of the most beautiful islands of Burias. The small island is located at the north eastern side of  San Pascual. It’s a remarkable destination for travelers.

Guyam island, Siargao. This island is so tiny, that it takes you about 3 minutes to walk along the entire circumference. It’s not usually an island that you stay on, rather island hop to from a nearby larger island. Siargao Island is a Surfing Capital of Asia.

Malcapuya island, Coron, Palawan. Beautiful beige sand, clear waters and corals reefs. The beaches are home to a long line of coconut palm trees. It is just picturesque and beautiful.

Cambugahay Falls, Siquijor. Siquijor is a beautiful yet tiny island province famous for waterfalls, diving, caves and forest walks. Most areas of Siquijor are great for snorkeling, so all you have to do is find the nearest beach and dive in.

Linapacan  Island, is a stunning medium sized island which rarely sees a tourist, because it’s pretty tough to get to. There is no public ferry or air travel. You will have complete tranquillity and peace if you ever end up there.

Read more in: The Gulf News

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FINALLY: LTFRB asks UBER to pay discounted ₱190 Million to lift the remaining 2 weeks Suspension

Drivers and operators of UBER System Inc., gather and meet outside its main office in Mandaluyong City, August 15 2017, a day after the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board suspended its accreditation and operation. Photo: Manila Bulletin 

The LTFRB late Friday night (25th August 2017) announced granting Uber’s appeal to lift the one-month suspension and pay instead a fine to make up for repeatedly violating the regulatory body’s order not to accept new drivers.

Rejecting the suggestion of the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (KAPIT) chairman Vigor Mendoza II that UBER should pay ₱6 Billion pesos, LTFRB finally decided a discounted amount that UBER should pay to lift the remaining 2 weeks of suspension.

“The Board thus rule to grant the prayer of respondent (Uber) to lift the suspension imposed in its order of 14 August 2017; in lieu thereof, imposes a fine of ₱190 million Philippine pesos,” the order, signed August 25, 2017, read.

In addition to the fine, Uber was told to remit ₱20 million as assistance to its 36,367 transport vehicle network service (TNVS) operators who were active in the last 28 days before the suspension order was issued. The ride-sharing company should show the LTFRB a certification from its depository bank as proof of its compliance.

 “The lifting of suspension will depend on the payment of fine and remittance of financial assistance,” LTFRB spokesperson Aileen Lizada told reporters in a text message..

Lizada said the ₱190 million fines was based on the average ₱7-10 million Uber earns from its 150,000 ridership per day, multiplied by the remaining days of suspension which was supposed to be effective until  September 14, 2017.

After facing off with LTFRB officials in a dialogue at the Senate, Uber on August 17, 2017 filed an appeal to the LTFRB to revoke its suspension, proposing that it pays a fine of greater amount than the ₱5 million earlier imposed on it for continuing to accept and activate TNVS operators under its platform despite the July 26, 2016 moratorium.

The regulator halted Uber’s operations for a month from Aug. 14, 2017 for disregarding a directive to stop accepting new driver applications.

Uber, which said it did not process those applications, later told the LTFRB it could pay a fine of ₱10 million Philippine pesos to get the suspension lifted.

The Uber freeze has attracted public attention because many Philippine commuters regard the ride hailing app as more reliable and competitive than mainstream transport services (TAXIs).

Like and share: Grab, Uber and U-Hop Philippines' Drivers and Operators group

Uber recently said it had nearly 67,000 Philippine drivers.

The dispute with the Philippine regulator is the latest setback this year to Uber (USA based firm), a firm valued at more than $60 billion US Dollars.

Its Philippines suspension caused a spike in demand for rival Grab, and long queues near offices and malls and some disgruntlement about reverting to using regular taxis.

Philippine Senator Grace Poe, a prominent advocate for improving transport services, tried to bring Uber and LTFRB officials together to work out a compromise. An executive of Uber apologized for its "misunderstanding".

Poe on Friday said the hefty fine should "make Uber rethink its actions and re-evaluate its strategy in testing the extent of government regulations."

The LTFRB last year suspended applications for ride-share operators, to work out how best to regulate the industry. It said Uber was "irresponsible" for challenging that order.

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