Metro Clark

{{short description|Urban area in the Philippines}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Metro Clark | other_name = Metro Angeles | settlement_type = Metropolitan area | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 300 | perrow = 2/1/2/2/2 | image1 = Angelesjf9605 26.JPG | image2 = SalakotArchjf9566 13.JPG | image3 = New Clark City Sports Hub (Aerial View, June 30, 2020).jpg | image4 = Bacolor Church.JPG | image5 = Capas Tarlac May 2018 (42450722332).jpg | image6 = 9422jfAngeles University Foundation Roadsfvf 18.JPG | image7 = GLFjf1503 02.JPG }} | image_caption = From left to right: Clark Freeport Zone entrance, Bayanihan Park, New Clark City Sports Hub, San Guillermo Parish Church, Capas National Shrine, AUF Sports and Cultural Center, Giant Lantern Festival | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Philippines | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_type2 = Provinces | subdivision_type3 = Cities | subdivision_type4 = Municipalities | subdivision_name1 = Central Luzon (Region III) | subdivision_name2 = Pampanga Tarlac | subdivision_name3 = '''Pampanga:''' Angeles Mabalacat San Fernando | subdivision_name4 = '''Pampanga:''' Arayat Bacolor Lubao Magalang Mexico Porac Santo Tomas '''Tarlac:''' Bamban Capas | population_as_of = 2020 | seat_type = Largest city | seat = Angeles City | population_total = 1.6 million | area_total_sq_mi = | area_footnotes = }}

'''Metro Clark''', also known as '''Metro Angeles''',<ref name="NUDHF" /> was an urban area in Pampanga and Tarlac, Philippines. It was primarily composed of three cities and nine municipalities. Its urban core consists of Angeles, San Fernando, and Mabalacat.<ref name="Subic Bay Masterplan 1992">{{cite web |title=Subic Bay Masterplan 1992 |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11525102_04.pdf |website=Japan International Cooperation Agency |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="NEDA III 2020 Report">{{cite web |title=Central Luzon Development Report 2020 |url=https://nro3.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Central-Luzon-Regional-Development-Report-2020_Final.pdf |website=National Economic Development Authority - Central Luzon |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="Angeles City Transport Plan">{{cite web |last1=Orbon |last2=Dizon |last3=Beltran |last4=Dungca |title=Proposed Transport Plan for Angeles City, Pampanga |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319263147 |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> It was a major urban area of the Philippines<ref name="NUDHF">{{cite web |title=National Urban Development and Housing Framework 2008-2010 |url=https://www.hudcc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/document/NUDHF%202008-2010.pdf |website=Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> and was considered the industrial and residential center of Central Luzon.<ref name="NEDA III 2020 Report" />

Anchored on Clark International Airport and the Clark Special Economic Zone, the area's economy was based on transportation, logistics, education, commerce, banking, manufacturing and healthcare. It was also a major population center, housing 38% of people living in Pampanga, and 8% of all people living in Central Luzon. It was touted to be the second major metropolitan area in Luzon, serving as a "countermagnet" to Metro Manila and the Greater Manila Area, and also as a means to decongest the national capital region, metropolitan area, and urbanization region.<ref name="Clark alternative to decongest MM">{{cite web |title=Clark pushed as alternative to decongest Metro Manila |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/clark-pushed-as-alternative-to-decongest-metro-manila |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=23 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="Pampanga Megalopolis">{{cite web |title=Pampanga Megalopolis plan expected to ease congestion in Metro Manila |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/pampanga-megalopolis-plan-expected-to-ease-congestion-in-metro-manila |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=16 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Del Rosario |first1=Marna |title=Pampanga Megalopolis Plan: Strongest counter-magnet to MM |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1024563 |website=Philippine News Agency |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=February 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="CPH 2020">{{cite web |title=2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH) Population Counts Declared Official by the President {{!}} Philippine Statistics Authority {{!}} Republic of the Philippines |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/2020-census-population-and-housing-2020-cph-population-counts-declared-official-president |website=Philippine Statistics Authority |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="Metro Luzon">{{cite web |last1=Einsiedel |first1=Nathaniel Von |title=Vision 2030: A Regional Spatial Strategy for Metro Luzon |url=https://bluprint-onemega.com/vision-2030-a-regional-spatial-strategy-for-metro-luzon/ |website=BluPrint |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

==Etymology== Metro Clark was named after the Clark Air Base, a former United States Military Airbase that has been converted into a freeport zone and a commercial airport serving North and Central Luzon.

In the past, several names have been used to label the urban area of Pampanga centered on its capital San Fernando and adjacent towns to the airbase, namely, Angeles and Mabalacat. These include Metro Angeles,<ref name="NUDHF" /> San Fernando-Angeles metropolitan area,<ref name="Subic Bay Masterplan 1992" /> Metro Pampanga,<ref name="BSP - RED 2005">{{cite web |title=Regional Economic Developments in the Philippines |url=https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Media_And_Research/Report%20on%20Regional%20Economic%20Developments/RED_2005.pdf |website=Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas |access-date=19 November 2023 |page=6}}</ref> Pampanga Triangle,<ref name="Eastern Pampanga Development">{{cite web |title=Ranking Pampanga officials mull dev't of eastern part of province into tourism, agri zones {{!}} Politiko South Luzon |url=https://southluzon.politics.com.ph/2016/11/01/ranking-pampanga-officials-mull-devt-of-eastern-part-of-province-into-tourism-agri-zones/ |website=southluzon.politics.com.ph |publisher=Politiko |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=1 November 2016}}</ref> and the Pampanga Golden Triangle.<ref name="Pampanga aspiring megalopolis">{{cite web |last1=Abadilla |first1=Emmie |title=Pampanga aspiring to be megalopolis |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/29/pampanga-aspiring-to-be-megalopolis |website=Manila Bulletin |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

In 2017, in its most recent national development plan, the National Economic Development Authority identified Metro Clark as one of the regional centers in the country.<ref name="Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022">{{cite web |title=Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 |url=https://pdp.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/7212021_Updated-PDP-2017-2022.pdf |website=National Economic Development Authority |access-date=19 November 2023 |page=44}}</ref>

==Definition== The urban core of Metro Clark is composed of the cities of Angeles, San Fernando and Mabalacat.<ref name="Subic Bay Masterplan 1992" /><ref name="Luzon Spatial Development Framework">{{cite web |title=Luzon Spatial Development Framework 2015-2045 |url=http://rdc.rdc2.gov.ph/images/pdf/lsdf.pdf |website=Regional Development Council - Cagayan Valley |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120012417/http://rdc.rdc2.gov.ph/images/pdf/lsdf.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Meanwhile, several municipalities form the urban fringe. Magalang, Arayat, Mexico, Santo Tomas, Bacolor, Lubao, Porac of Pampanga; and Bamban and Capas of Tarlac all have been recognised as towns supporting the urban core of Metro Clark.<ref name="NEDA III 2020 Report" /> The Metro Clark Advisory Board created in 1993 lists Angeles, Mabalacat, Porac, Capas and Bamban as members. All of these four local government units directly border the Clark Freeport Zone.<ref name="businessmirror1">{{cite news |title=CDC, Widus, Pagcor share 'spirit of bayanihan' to Metro Clark LGUs |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/27/cdc-widus-pagcor-share-spiritof-bayanihan-to-metro-clark-lgus/ |access-date=16 June 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=27 November 2020}}</ref> {{unbulleted list | {{Color box|#FFE6F3|∗|border=darkgray}} {{font|Urban Core|size=90%}} | {{Color box|#FDFDFD|border=darkgray}} {{font|Urban Fringe|size=90%}} }} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="background-color:#FDFDFD;" ! City or Municipality !! Population (2020) !! Land Area (in km2) !! Population Density (per km2) |- style="background: #FFE6F3;" |Angeles* || 462,928 || 63.37 || 7,305.16 |- style="background: #FFE6F3;" | San Fernando* || 354,666 || 67.74 || 5,235.70 |- style="background: #FFE6F3;" | Mabalacat* || 293,244 || 82.20 || 3,567.45 |- | Arayat || 133,492 || 134.48 || 992.65 |- | Bacolor || 48,066 || 71.70 || 670.38 |- | Lubao || 173,502 || 155.77 || 1,113.83 |- | Magalang || 124,188 || 97.32 || 1,276.08 |- | Mexico || 173,403 || 117.41 || 1,476.90 |- | Santo Tomas || 42,846 || 21.30 || 2,011.55 |- | Bamban, Tarlac || 78,260 || 251.98 || 310.58 |- | Capas, Tarlac || 156,056 || 376.39 || 414.61 |-class="sortbottom" style="background-color:#F2F2F2;line-height:1.3em;" | Urban Core only || 1,110,838 || 213.31 || 5,207.62 |-class="sortbottom" style="background-color:#F2F2F2;border-top:double grey;line-height:1.3em;font-weight:bold;" | Total || 2,040,651 || 1,439.66 || 1,417.45 |}

==Geography== The urban core of the metropolitan area sits in northern Pampanga in Central Luzon. It is in the eastern foot of Mt. Pinatubo, an active volcano that last erupted in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mount Pinatubo - Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Pinatubo |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=10 November 2023}}</ref> It is roughly 98 meters above sea level and is around 82 kilometers north of Metro Manila.<ref>{{cite web |title=Angeles - Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Angeles |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=18 November 2023}}</ref>

The area forms an elongated area roughly starting from San Fernando, the capital city of Pampanga and runs in a northwesterly direction following the Jose Abad Santos Avenue and the expressway (North Luzon Expressway). It ends in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat, which have formed a single contiguous urban area.<ref name="Angeles City Transport Plan" />

==Economy== As the economic center of Central Luzon, Metro Clark supports a diverse and robust economy anchored on transportation and storage, offshoring, and manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Better infrastructure opens new opportunities for Clark |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2021/06/30/379121/better-infrastructure-opens-new-opportunities-for-clark/ |website=BusinessWorld Online |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=29 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eastern Communications expands footprint in Clark, Pampanga |url=https://www.eastern.com.ph/news-&-updates/eastern-communications-expands-footprint-in-clark-pampanga-1 |website=Eastern |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

The biggest freeport zone in Central Luzon, the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ), was established in 1993. As of the end of August 2023, there are 1,113 business locators here that employ 136,836 regular workers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Malig |first1=Jun A. |title=Clark Freeport: An epicenter of growth |url=https://business.inquirer.net/427934/clark-freeport-an-epicenter-of-growth |website=INQUIRER.net |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=22 October 2023}}</ref> There are around 60 business process outsourcing company locators in CFZ.<ref>{{cite web |title=Additional office space to bring more BPO, POGO companies in Clark |url=https://kmcmaggroup.com/research-insights/2019/additional-office-space-to-bring-more-bpo-pogo-companies-in-clark/ |website=KMC Mag Group |access-date=19 November 2023|date=1 August 2019}}</ref> In 2019, the freeport was also identified as the top manufacturer of electronics exports of Central Luzon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark is Central Luzon's top source of export on electronics |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/clark-is-central-luzons-top-source-of-export-on-electronics |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en |date=20 March 2019}}</ref> Other locators include electric vehicle,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Talavera |first1=Catherine |title=Clark eyes more EV manufacturers |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/11/03/2308465/clark-eyes-more-ev-manufacturers |website=Philstar.com |access-date=20 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023}}</ref> food and furniture manufacturers.

Metro Clark is also a real estate hotspot, just behind Manila and Cebu, as it holds of 17% newly leased space nationwide in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Camus |first1=Miguel R. |title=PH Office market turns in surprise '23 performance |url=https://business.inquirer.net/437565/ph-office-market-turns-in-surprise-23-performance |website=INQUIRER.net |access-date=6 March 2024 |language=en |date=18 December 2023}}</ref> According to real estate search website Lamudi, Clark is a strong regional market, with an 800% increase in leads online between 2018 and 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Key provincial cities showing strong property sector growth |url=https://innoland.com.ph/key-provincial-cities-showing-strong-property-sector-growth/ |website=Innoland Development Corp. |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en |date=23 May 2019}}</ref> Several major real estate companies have launched township projects in the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Six Philippine real estate developers and their top projects in Pampanga |url=https://www.myproperty.ph/journal/2019/02/13/six-philippine-real-estate-developers-and-their-top-projects-in-pampanga/ |website=MyProperty.ph |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=13 February 2019}}</ref> It is considered ripe for luxury projects targeting affluent markets in Angeles and San Fernando; as well as industrial developments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bondoc |first1=Joey |title=Emerging real estate trends outside Metro Manila |url=https://propertyreport.ph/news-and-events/2023/07/07/30368/emerging-real-estate-trends-outside-metro-manila/ |website=Property Report |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=6 July 2023}}</ref> From 2022 to 2026, professional services firm Colliers also projects the delivery of 150 condominium units annually, with San Fernando covering about 62% of the new supply during that period.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bondoc |first1=Joey |title=Rise of the north: Pampanga |url=https://www.colliers.com/en-ph/research/radar-pampanga-residential-real-estate-2022 |website=Colliers Philippines |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

The urban area also has a burgeoning hotel and leisure sector. As of June 2019, there are about 31 deluxe and traditional hotels within the trade area with a total supply of 5,020 rooms, dominated by deluxe hotels based on the number of keys.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark Beyond Business: MICE and Leisure |url=https://kmcmaggroup.com/research-insights/2019/clark-beyond-business-leisure-and-travel/ |website=KMC Mag Group |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

According to the PDIC, in 2021, there are 221 banking offices in the urban area, which is 65% of all banking offices in the province of Pampanga. The urban area also held 260 billion pesos in banking deposits, representing 84% of the total banking deposits in the province.<ref name="PDIC 2021">{{cite web |title=Philippine Banking System - Distribution of Domestic Deposits |url=https://www.pdic.gov.ph/files/BSDStats/DDD_PBS_ProvinceMunicipality.htm |website=www.pdic.gov.ph |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref>

==Politics== The urban area is represented in the lower house of the Philippines as part of Pampanga province: San Fernando is part of the 3rd District of Pampanga; while Angeles and Mabalacat are parts of the 1st District.

San Fernando and Mabalacat are both component cities which means they are still able to vote for provincial officials. Angeles is a highly urbanized city, which means it is administratively independent of Pampanga, but is grouped with the province for representational purposes.

==Arts and culture== San Fernando is considered the heart of Kapampangan culture. Pampanga itself is widely considered to be the culinary capital of the Philippines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Pampanga Is the Culinary Capital of the Philippines |url=https://www.airasia.com/play/assets/blta16be6ff96393f28/why-pampanga-is-the-culinary-capital-of-the-philippines |website=Airasia.com |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> ''Sisig'' was created in Angeles.

At the moment, the area is served by five museums.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orejas |first1=Tonette T. |title=Up close with national artists in this Pampanga museum |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1802200/up-close-with-national-artists-in-this-pampanga-museum |website=INQUIRER.net |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en |date=16 July 2023}}</ref> The Museum of Philippine Arts and Culture in Angeles is the most recent addition. Some other notable ones include Museo ning Angeles, which was established in 1999 showcasing history of Angeles City; the Museum of Philippine Social History in Angeles City, which is housed in the historic Pamintuan Mansion; and Clark 4D Museum hosting interactive displays on the history of Clark.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark Museum and 4D Theater |url=https://museu.ms/museum/details/18232/clark-museum-and-4d-theater |website=museu.ms |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Education== The metropolitan area is home to some of Central Luzon's first universities, including Angeles University Foundation (elevated 1971), University of the Assumption (elevated 1980), and Holy Angel University (elevated 1980). The University of the Philippines Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga (established 1979), is located inside Clark Freeport.

==Transportation== Metro Clark is served by a major airport, an upcoming railway line and several major roads.

Clark International Airport is branded as the gateway to North and Central Luzon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Clark International Airport {{!}} CRK Official Site |url=https://clarkinternationalairport.com/about-us/ |website=Clark International Airport {{!}} CRK Official Website |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> It is the country's 17th busiest airport in 2022. It opened for commercial flights in 1996, and underwent several expansions in the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark (formerly Diosdado Macapagal) International Airport |url=https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/diosdadomacapagal/?cf-view |website=Airport Technology |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> In 2022, its new passenger terminal building opened.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Philippines' Clark International Airport's new terminal: a child of the COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/the-philippines-clark-international-airports-new-terminal-a-child-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-607681 |website=CAPA - Centre for Aviation |access-date=19 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In May 2023, the airport serviced 73,226 domestic passengers and 115,847 international passengers, which were 617% and 134% higher, respectively, than in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark airport passengers up 217% in May |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/06/22/530240/clark-airport-passengers-up-217-in-may/ |website=BusinessWorld Online |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=22 June 2023}}</ref>

The under-construction railway line, North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will serve communities in Metro Clark when it is completed in 2029. Stations will be built in San Fernando, Angeles, and Clark International Airport. Once operational, the NSCR is expected to service as many as 800,000 passengers daily and cut travel time from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna to less than two hours.<ref>{{cite web |title=North-South Commuter Rail opens partially in 3Q 2026 |url=https://www.portcalls.com/commuter-rail-opens-partially-in-3q-2026/ |website=PortCalls Asia |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=4 March 2023}}</ref>

Buses are also a popular form of transport. Dau Bus Terminal in Mabalacat, Pampanga is a major interchange from buses from Metro Manila. It serves routes going to Bataan, Tarlac, Zambales, and most destinations to the north, such as Baguio, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dau Terminal Bus Schedule |url=https://commutetour.com/ph/terminal/dau-mabalacat/ |website=Commute Tour |access-date=19 November 2023 |date=1 January 2023}}</ref> Major highways that run through Metro Clark include Jose Abad Santos Avenue, the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Central Luzon Category:Geography of Tarlac Category:Geography of Pampanga Category:Proposed metropolitan areas of the Philippines