While the Philippines continues to implement game-changing measures to ensure economic growth, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting the country’s identity as part of the overall goal for Bagong Pilipinas.
One such example lies within the Clark Freeport Zone, with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) entering into a partnership for the establishment of a new museum in Clark.
Construction of the regional museum of the National Museum of the Philippines inside the Clark Freeport Zone is still ongoing as of December 15, 2024.
President Marcos has been highlighting the vital role of museums as “cultural assets that unite communities and inspire creativity,” as he encouraged all to visit museums and relish the rich cultural heritage of the country.
According to NMP, the museum in Clark “will feature exhibitions on local history, art, culture, natural history, anthropology, and archaeology. It will also serve as an off-site location for NMP’s central office and national collection repositories, among other functions.”
With a P300 million budget allocation, the museum will be built in the former Clark Air Base Hospital, which has a land area of 5.2 hectares, and the former Eldorado property with 1.3 hectares. The CDC Board of Directors has approved the use of the properties for the museum for 50 years, with the option to be extended for another 25 years.
The National Museum’s Clark Site is in line with the “Build Better More,” an infrastructure masterplan under the President administration which is part of the Philippine Development Plan 20023-2028.
The PDP 2023-2028 is a plan for deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path.
Under President Marcos’ vision, this growth must be inclusive, building an environment that provides equal opportunities to all Filipinos, and equipping them with skills to participate fully in an innovative and globally competitive economy.
NMP Chairperson Andoni Mendieta Aboitiz, during the signing of the MOU with CDC, expressed confidence that the facility will help boost tourism and economic activities in Central Luzon.
“We are very happy and excited about this project because this will be a new venue for us to expand in Central Luzon. We would like to see this as a destination where people drive to Clark to see what the National Museum has to offer. For us, the success of this project, apart from the development, is also for tourism,” he said.
According to CDC President and CEO Agnes Devanadera, the facility will be an extension of the national headquarters of the NMP, noting the project is one of the “grandest things” that will happen in Clark.
“Clark is very lucky that it has been chosen as the new home of the National Museum. It will not just be a museum but it will also be home to the National Museum’s back office, warehouse, as well as the Planetarium. The architectural framework of the old Clark hospital goes well with the plan of the National Museum and we can say that this is going to be one of the grandest things that will happen in Clark,” she said.
On February 2023, officials of the Clark Development Corporation and National Museum of the Philippines sign a deed of Usufruct for the establishment of the regional museum within the Clark Freeport Zone. (Photo Source: CDC)
The NMP on July 28, 2023, inaugurated the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu with President Marcos gracing the event as part of the country’s national agenda to promote tourism and to nurture national identity.
“Museums are considered valuable cultural assets to a nation as they build a sense of community, document history, inspire creativity, promote tourism, and unite people through a shared heritage. Indeed, through the art and the artifacts that they showcase, museums enable visitors to get a glimpse of the past, understand the present, and illuminate the way to the future,” the President, a museum buff himself, said.
Devanadera noted that the presence of the museum will be another go-to educational and recreational destination that will raise the awareness of Filipinos in the province.
“Sa nakikita natin, yung antas ng consciousness at awareness ng ating taumbayan ay hindi lamang mako-concentrate sa Manila kundi madadali din natin dito,” she said.
Joshua Garcia, a student of National University in Pampanga, believes that establishing the museum will help the younger generation understand the culture and history of the Philippines.
As a student, the facility will also be helpful in their academic requirement, being one of the reliable sources of information.
“Tingin ko po makaka-help po siya kagaya ng kung may research paper po kami. As a student, minsan mayroon po kaming subjects na nag-i-indulge po sa history ng Pilipinas. Makakatulong po siya kung may actual museum na pwede po naing mabisita,” he said.
The NMP-Clark is expected to showcase natural history, anthropology, and archeology in addition to the region’s history, arts, and culture. It will also offer educational, cultural, scientific, entertainment, and tourist opportunities.
The building will serve as an off-site location for NMP’s central offices, national collection repositories, research, training, and technical and logistical activities.
The NMP-Clark is just one of the initiatives of the NMP to boost its presence in provinces patterned after the social and economic objectives of the Marcos administration.
