China to build ‘city within a city’ in Manila Bay
A video recently made rounds on Facebook that showed a new city in Metro Manila. It had the city sitting in the middle of Manila Bay, and calls itself a smart city.
What is the name of this city, you ask? It’s New Manila Bay – City of Pearl.
IMAGE Ho & Partners Architects/Asia Property Report
Designed by Hong Kong-based Ho & Partners Architects (HPA), “City of Pearl is a visionary new integrated CBD (central business district),” said Nicholas Ho, HPA’s Deputy Managing Director.
In the video, he explained that it was a self sustaining smart community that was “beyond any international benchmark today.” It will act as a city within the city of Manila, connected to other districts in Manila via water taxi.
It’s pegged as the first “smart city” in Southeast Asia that’s centered on sustainable design, making use of artificial intelligence and renewable energy. It will have multiple transportation channels, a waterfront promenade and its own sports stadium. There will also be designated areas for residential units and high-rise office spaces.
MOU SIGNED. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the City of Manila, the Philippine Reclamation Authority, and China’s UAA Kinnming Group Development Corp./IMAGE Joel Santos via Manila City Government
The project was given the green light by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on February 7, 2017. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the city, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), and China’s UAA Kinming Group Development Corp.
Estrada stressed that the project would expand the City of Manila’s borders and open up thousands of job and livelihood opportunities for its residents. “This reclamation project will be a symbol of our mission and vision of creating a city that is prepared for a future of economic prosperity and social equity,” the mayor said in a statement.
City of Pearl is the third reclamation project approved by the City of Manila under Estrada. He previously approved the P7-billion expansion of Manila North Harbor and a 2013 development project known as Solar City.
All of these projects will reportedly start within the year.
Source: Asia Property Report, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin
