Forum for the Army Civil Miliary Operations Group

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova engages with BCDA's biggest stakeholder, our country's armed forces, in a forum held at Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur. Atty. Casanova discusses to members of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army the "Role of BCDA in the AFP Modernization Program." The highlight of the event is the open forum which allows for a meaningful interaction between BCDA officials and members of the military. The forum is in line with BCDA's Stakeholder Satisfaction Program for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Participants of the forum were members of the Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG) of the Philippine Army (PA). The 9th Infantry (Spear) Division is led by its Division Commander, MGen Romeo Calizo, AFP, with Assistant Division Commander BGen @Felix Castro, Jr, AFP. With the team is Col. Arnulfo Burgos, Jr., Commander of the CMOG, PA

For photos, you can check out this link: Forum for the Army Civil Military Operations Group

BCDA collaborates with global technology experts to develop a Smart+Connected Clark Green City

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has forged a collaboration  with global technology experts on urban planning and information and communications technology (ICT) development with a view to optimizing the potential of the projected Clark Green City at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in the provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to confirm a three-way collaboration and the signing ceremony was attended by BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer, Arnel Paciano D. Casanova; Country General Manager for Cisco in Philippines, Stephen Thomas Misa; and Korean-based firm Centios (formerly known as kcss) CEO, Hung Kwon Song.

According to Casanova, the MOU “creates a non-binding framework for furthering discussions under which the parties can explore potential collaborative opportunities and determine business opportunities in relation to sustainable urbanization,” referring in particular to BCDA’s Clark Green City project.

“BCDA, Cisco and Centios intend to enter into discussions regarding a possible strategic relationship to align the approach and methodology to design and build sustainable communities and cities of the future,” Casanova said

He added that the strategic collaborate will be based on the  use of Cisco’s Smart+Connected^™ Communities offerings to help attain the BCDA’s vision of sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective solutions for community and city development.

Cisco Smart+Connected^™ Communities uses the network as platform to weave together people, services, community assets, and information into a single pervasive solution. The initiative encapsulates a new way of thinking about how communities are designed, built, managed, and renewed to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability; transforming physical communities to connected communities.

For its part, the Korean-based firm Centios will work on a feasibility study for the Clark Special Economic Zone based on Cisco Smart+Connected^™ Communities concept. Centios has the expertise in the area of building ‘Intelligent Cities’ and has to its credit the New Songdo International Business District in South Korea.

Pursuant to the MOU, the BCDA will allow kcss and Cisco to review the masterplan for the envisioned Clark Green City, and will provide all relevant information about the BCDA’s development areas.

Cisco will also share its industry best practices with BCDA and Centios.

The MOU is focused on providing a forum for discussions to explore, develop and maximize the potentials of the CSEZ as one of the key growth areas under the umbrella of the BCDA.  

Songdo City - The Inspiration for Clark Green City

Timor-Leste PM visits Bonifacio Global City for business ideas

Timor-Leste PM visits Bonifacio Global City for business ideas

 Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and his ministers visited Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Ciy Saturday night to get ideas on how to set up a stable business environment in Timor-Leste, Malacañang said Sunday.

A Palace statement said Gusmão, who arrived in Manila Thursday for a four-day official visit, was welcomed by representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation at the Mind Museum.

The Timor-Leste delegation was briefed about the Fort Bonifacio Global City (formerly known as Fort Bonifacio), a highly urbanized district in Taguig City. The Fort Bonifacio Global City has experienced robust commercial growth in recent years through the sale of military land by the BCDA. The entire Fort Bonifacio district used to be a part of the main Philippine Army camp in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Read the whole story on GMA Network.com

BCDA President at Rotary Club of Makati

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova discusses the development plans of the Authority among officers and members of the Rotary Club of Makati led by its president Carlo Rufino.

4 Commandments of Cities: A TED film

As we mentioned previously, the BGC is one of the best examples of urban planning in the Philippines. This video from TED shows just how important proper urban planning is to the future

Eduardo Paes is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, a sprawling, complicated, beautiful city of 6.5 million. He shares four big ideas about leading Rio -- and all cities -- into the future, including bold (and do-able) infrastructure upgrades and how to make a city "smarter." 

http://on.ted.com/Paes

Flood Control when planning cities

A news story on 24 Oras. Masterplan kontra baha, kailangan ng Metro Manila.

Flood control was one of the top priorities when BGC was conceived and developed, and the innovative system that BGC used can hopefully be implemented by flood-prone cities.