The Philippine Star

ARRC awaits gov’t decision on rehab of Danilo Atienza airport

- –Louella Desiderio

All-Asia Resources Reclamatio­n Corp. (ARRC) is hopeful the government could decide soon on the consortium’s plan to rehabilita­te the Danilo Atienza airport to serve private jets and smaller low-cost carriers, as well as to develop an internatio­nal gateway airport in Sangley in Cavite.

“We have long been ready with our foreign partners to do both. Hopefully the government decides soon enough even for the Danilo Atienza project only because it will make NAIA (Ninoy Aquino Internatio­nal Airport) more efficient,” ARRC vice chairman Edmundo Lim said in a statement.

The group, composed of the Tieng family and SM Group’s Belle Corp, intends to rehabilita­te the present Danilo Atienza airport in Sangley and use it as a third runway to cater to private jets and smaller lowcost carriers.

“We have submitted an unsolicite­d proposal to rehabilita­te Danilo Atienza and finish it in one year. If the government accepts this, we can absorb all general aviation from NAIA and some lowcost carriers, so NAIA can handle more commercial flights,” Lim said.

The Danilo Atienza airport’s runway is expected to complement the initial two runways under ARRC’s plan to build the Sangley integrated complex.

ARRC’s plan to develop the Sangley integrated complex involves building an internatio­nal airport, seaport, as well as mixeduse developmen­t on reclaimed land.

Lim said both projects could be undertaken without government having to spend a single centavo.

The group could finish the new Sangley airport project within five years, upon government’s issuance of the notice to proceed.

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