ISOCARP’s 60th World Planning Congress Diamond Anniversary Series   

 1st International Conference for New Cities | Planning New Regenerative Cities  

New Clark City, Tarlac Province, The Philippines , 10-13 September 2024  

We are thrilled to share that the 1st International Conference for New Cities, “Planning New Regenerative Cities” was an exceptional start to our 60th World Planning Congress Diamond Anniversary Series.

We are very grateful to the 300+ participants and authors from more than 40 countries of the Global South and North who honoured us with their presence to share four days of knowledge exchange, additional tourist visits, fantastic food, and celebrations that immersed us in the rich Filipino culture and highlighted our new challenges as planners.

Our biggest recognition goes to the energetic Governor of Tarlac Province, Ms. Susan Yap, as well to Haydee Jacklyn Malubay, head of the Local Organising Committee, to our Conference Team as well as the ISOCARP Secretariat for the organisation of this pioneering inaugural event.

The conference offered 35 sessions in an overall rich and engaging programme, featuring:

• • 6 Keynote Speakers
  • 11 Special Sessions
  • 7 Planning and Placemaking Charrette “Do-Track” Sessions
  • 11 Track Sessions (research and case studies)
  • 2 high level Roundtables
  • 2 Young Planning Professionals workshops (in two different municipalities)
  • Launch of the first ‘Special Issue Cities & Health Journal’, output of the ISOCARP – Cities & Health (Routledge) collaboration
  • 2 full day specialised Technical Tours
  • 7 social and networking events
  • a President’s Elect interactive ‘ISOCARP Meet and greet’ session with 50 (potential) members and non-members from 10+ countries

60+ papers and case studies were presented, after being carefully selected by our dedicated Conference Team, led by our outstanding General Rapporteur, Andy Simarmata (from Jakarta, Indonesia).

We are also very proud for the success of our innovative “do-track”, a “Planning & Placemaking Charrette” which encompassed a series of workshops and site visits that aimed to produce policy recommendations for New Clark City, while establishing a Planning Manifesto for regenerative new towns and settlements, which aims at complementing UN-Habitats planning guidelines of 2015.

3. Last but not least, the regional impact of the WPC60-NCC was noteworthy. The livestream of our Opening Ceremony was watched more than 32.000 times on social media, indicating a high interest in the Conference topics in the Philippines as well as the wider ASEAN region.

ISOCARP and the WPC60-NCC Conference Host

This year we have partnered with the Provincial Government of Tarlac (PGT) for the organisation of the 1st International Conference for New Cities. Governor Susan A. Yap is championing this event locally, extending the remarkable Philippine hospitality to all our participants. 

Introduction to the 1st International Conference for New Cities: 

Planning New Regenerative Cities

In a digitalising world with circular economy, expectations for sustainably humanised and healthy cities and environments are increasing. For urban and regional planners, there is an opportunity and professional responsibility to take a more robust approach to cities through new settlements or redevelopment strategies. Although coined 14 years ago by the World Future Council, a German non-profit foundation, regenerative cities are more contextual to be discussed or revisited, especially when we are now under triple planetary crisis and in fast digital transformation. What we can learn from the past, on-going, and near future city development will enrich the current stock of knowledge to navigate our future.   

In New Clark City, about 100km northwest of Manila’s megalopolis in the Philippine Tarlac region, ISOCARP and the Local Organising Committee welcome the entire international planning community to explore the challenges and opportunities of planning for sustainable new cities that are healthy, inclusive, compact, regenerative and embed circular economy, carbon-neutral energy supplies, and nature-based solutions, while fostering sustainable connectivity and complementarity with existing cities in the region, and with Manila Metro in particular.  

A particular focus is to explore New Clark City as inspiring practice of regenerating a former military base – aspiring to new concepts of brownfield development. The conference will also explore climate adaptive resilience planning approaches for new (and existing) cities vulnerable to climate change – from drought to floods – and natural risks such as volcanic and seismic activity. Last but not least, the conference will highlight the cultural diversity of the hosting region, as inspiration to blend past traditions, present practices and future innovations into smart new city planning and development, through inclusion of the indigenous population of the Aetas who had historical stewardship of domains part of the New Clark City development  area.  

While the conference location is hinting to a regional focus on new city development in the fast-urbanising Asian part of the Global South, ISOCARP’s 60th World Planning Congress Diamond Anniversary Series will ensure a historical perspective by connecting New Clark City with grand old new city planning concepts such as Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City (1902), as well with the latest planning developments in and around the medieval Italian town of Siena, hosting the grand finale of the 60th World Planning Congress Diamond Anniversary Series.   

Conference Tracks

Extra “Do-Track” – Planning and Placemaking Charette!  

Much of the planning world increasingly focuses on regeneration, bringing nature back into existing cities, climate change adaptation, and many other topics around already existing places. What about all the new towns, mainly emerging in the Global South? Here, we do not want to repeat the same mistakes of the past; instead, there is an opportunity to leapfrog innovation cycles and subsequently get them right on the first attempt. We cannot afford to create cities that are not resilient anymore. Getting it wrong and fixing it can be costly and will prevent us from bringing the earth’s system back into balance before time has run out. These are enough reasons to work jointly on a New ‘Regenerative Cities Manifesto’. 

Conference Programme 

Join us to enjoy an engaging programme, encompassing:  

• • Captivating keynote lectures, 
  • Expert debates,  
  • Research and Case Study Track presentations  
  • Technical Tours (Manila, Tarlac region and surroundings),  
  • Special Sessions,  
  • Networking and social events,  
  • Indigenous storytelling   
  • Daily authentic local food,  
  • Art and dance shows prepared for you,  
  • Touristic visits prepared for you, including Mount Pinatubo!   

Hosted by:

Organised by:

Endorsing Partners