SMC says Bulacan airport project to generate 1-M jobs
SAN MIGUEL Corporation (SMC) on Monday said its proposed P736-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan will generate as much as one million jobs in its construction phase.
In a statement on Monday, SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said the company will hire “the best workers from here and abroad,” once it secures the go-signal for the airport construction.
“It’s a massive undertaking. We will need Filipino talents in engineering, construction, hospitality, and airport-related services. Hopefully, this will give many of our OFWs countrymen a reason to come home, be with their families, and at the same time help in building a better future for our nation,” Mr. Ang was quoted as saying.
SMC is proposing to build an airport that will be built on a 2,500-hectare property with up to six runways and modern terminals, and to be configured to handle about 100 million passengers a year.
The project was approved by the NEDA Board — chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte — in April, subject to the condition of another approval round for the concession agreement to address concerns about the proponent’s financial and technical capability to deliver.
SMC has already submitted the revised concession agreement along with the risk allocation matrix. The Department of Finance and NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) forwarded their comments earlier this month. SMC is now considering the comments.
The Department of Transportation (DoT) will then start negotiations with SMC to finalize the draft concession agreement which will be submitted to the NEDA-Investment Coordination Council, and will jump-start the Swiss Challenge.
Under a Swiss challenge, third parties can submit competing offers but the original proponent will be given the right to match these offers.
Last week, the DoT said two airport projects are now being prioritized — the construction of an airport in Bulacan and the development of an airport in Sangley, Cavite — to ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. —