DoTr signals readiness to consider other Sangley airport schemes

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said it is giving Cavite province until mid-2019 to lock down the financing plan for its Sangley airport proposal, signalling the department’s readiness to move forward with other proposals.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters last week that issues remain with the funding plan for the Cavite government’s $10 billion proposal — which was submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Feb. 19 — and added he will continue to consider other proposals for Sangley.

The value of the proposal and its submission to NEDA was confirmed to BusinessWorld by Cavite 7th district Rep. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla in a reply to a phone query.

“To cite the example of Sangley: If I want to use for some other purpose, should we delay because there is a pending offer? That shouldn’t be the case,” he said.

Mr. Tugade added he is giving the Cavite government a “reasonable period,” which is until middle of this year, to “come up with a decision one way or another.” Afterwards, he said he is open to consider the alternative proposal from the private sector.

Last year, Sangley Airport Infrastructure Group, Inc. (SAIG) submitted a $12-billion Philippine Sangley International Airport plan to the DoTr. This has been put on hold to prioritize the government-to-government transaction with the Cavite province.

SAIG is a consortium formed by Solar Group’s Wilson Y. Tieng and SM group’s Sy family.

Aside from evaluating the airport proposals for Sangley, Mr. Tugade said he also wants to utilize the current Air Force base for general aviation.

“I can also go ahead with my plan to transfer general aviation flights there,” he said, thereby decongesting Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In December, the DoTr announced plans to transfer general aviation flights to Sangley by the third quarter of 2019 as it continues to develop its runway and install hangars at the air base.

“I believe in the value of using Sangley. My strategy is not to wait. I’ve already told the proponent that since I’m improving the runway, if the airport project goes to them, they should involve the government. But I won’t delay the repair of the runway,” Mr. Tugade said.

In a letter to Mr. Tieng in April 2018, the DoTr said it would return to evaluating the group’s proposal if it decides to reject Cavite province’s pitch. “If for whatever reason, we decide not to push through with the Sangley Airport as a government undertaking, we will subsequently consider your submitted unsolicited proposal for evaluation and inform you accordingly of our decision,” it said.