The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is making a fourth push to attract private investors to commercialize the passive information and communications technology (ICT) backbone of New Clark City, relaunching a P2.5-billion project critical to building the country’s first smart metropolis.
BCDA said in a statement that its Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) has reopened the search for joint venture (JV) partners, with proposals due by February 16, 2026. The bidding process is expected to conclude by May, alongside the signing of the JV agreement.
The project will adopt an “Open Access Fiber” model, creating a shared, carrier-neutral fiber backbone that multiple service providers can use. By allowing data transmission players to operate on the same physical network, the model aims to lower costs, encourage competition, and deliver affordable, high-quality connectivity to government offices, businesses, and residents of New Clark City.
BCDA said the initiative will also underpin smart city applications and e-government services, accelerating the transformation of the 9,450-hectare greenfield development into a digitally enabled urban hub.
Earlier bidding rounds failed to gain traction. A November 2023 tender collapsed after bidders were deemed ineligible, while a February 2025 notice was canceled to align the project with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code. The most recent attempt, in September 2025, likewise failed to yield a deal.
The scope covers the commercialization, and when necessary, the expansion, repair, and maintenance of passive ICT infrastructure across the city.
PBAC chair Hedda Rulona said the project offers the private sector a chance to help shape New Clark City’s digital future, with the process conducted under Republic Act No. 11966 and supported by the Asian Development Bank.
BCDA President Joshua M. Bingcang said the project is expected to boost competitiveness, attract tech-driven industries, create high-skill jobs, and improve quality of life.
