TARLAC CITY -- Tarlac Governor Susan Yap declared her all-out support for New Clark City (NCC) and the inclusive development that it can bring to the province.

Yap said the NCC will provide a domino-effect locally in terms of development and will boost the livelihood of many especially the Tarlaqueños.

“Not only will the project address the congestion problems in Metro Manila but will also make our province an ideal investment destination in the country. And this will mean jobs for Tarlaqueños,” Yap said.

“I am excited for the development that comes with the construction of NCC, a modern metropolis envisioned to be the next growth driver in Luzon. It will be the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis in the country,” Yap added.

The governor addressed the issue on the displacement of Aeta families noting that they are not displaced and NCC is creating livelihood opportunities for them by prioritizing them in the employment.

“There is no truth in the news that there are tens of thousands of farmers and tribes people living in the 9,450 hectares’ development area,” she emphasized.

As per Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), 300 Aetas are now working at NCC as part of the 6,000 workers. This represents 10 percent of the total workforce of Capas.

“We should not be myopic now that development is already right at our doorsteps,” she said.

Yap added that BCDA is building access roads to and from NCC that will provide access and connectivity to everyone especially indigenous peoples (IPs), residents and farmers for their livelihood.

“The development of roads and other infrastructure will benefit all stakeholders. They will be the first and biggest beneficiaries of these developments,” she said.

Also, Yap said the communities were regularly consulted during dialogues with BCDA and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to assure them that they are part of the development.

“Our local government ensured that the stakeholders were involved in the consultation process held for the projects. The residents, farmers and IPs were consulted,” she added. (PR)