Japanese firms Index Strategy and Yachiyo Engineering will undertake the feasibility study (FS) for the proposed Clark Integrated Transport System, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said.
The memorandum of understanding for the study was signed on May 29 in Japan during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit. Signatories were Index Strategy CEO Kimikazu Uemura, Yachiyo Engineering General Manager for Business Development and Administration Gaku Adachi, and BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang.
BCDA said the Japanese firms will seek grant funding from the Japanese government for the study.
The FS will assess transportation conditions, future mobility demand, infrastructure requirements, and implementation strategies for the planned transport system.
The study will cover existing transport systems, road networks, traffic conditions, freight movement, active transport infrastructure, ongoing and planned infrastructure projects, and institutional and regulatory frameworks affecting mobility within Clark.
It will also include transport surveys, travel demand analysis and forecasting, and the preparation of an integrated transport master plan.
Among its key outputs are the identification of priority transport corridors and service areas, optimal transport network configurations and operational strategies, a public transport development plan, fleet and depot requirements, financial and funding strategies, and the integration of transport hubs with transit-oriented development opportunities.
BCDA underscored the need for an integrated transport system as the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone—comprising the Clark Freeport Zone, Clark International Airport, and New Clark City—continues to emerge as a major economic and logistics hub.
The agency cited major infrastructure investments, the relocation of government offices, tourism projects, industrial estate developments, and airport expansion as drivers of growth. Clark is envisioned to become a globally competitive, sustainable, and inclusive metropolis.
However, BCDA noted that the area’s transport network remains fragmented, with limited public transport integration, heavy reliance on private vehicles, inadequate active transport infrastructure, and weak multimodal connectivity.
These mobility gaps could hamper Clark’s long-term growth and its goal of becoming a model for sustainable urban development.
BCDA said the upcoming North-South Commuter Railway, together with Clark International Airport and the region’s expressway network, provides a unique opportunity to establish a future-ready transport system that seamlessly connects people, businesses, and communities across the region.
