Gov’t pushes new airport projects

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is developing other gateways to complement the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Clark International Airport (CRK), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade yesterday announced.

Currently, the government is prioritizing at least two projects - building a new airport in Bulacan and developing the Sangley airport in Cavite.

This airport complementation strategy should decongest NAIA, give travelers more options and spread development across Luzon.

“The world’s biggest economies have multiple airports,” he pointed out. “Ideally, a train service should link these airports and we are pursuing that complementation strategy. It was already part of the air transport roadmap from day one.”.

Last April 25, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the new Bulacan airport, an unsolicited proposal from the San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), subject to resolution of pending issues, including a submission of “Joint and Several Liability” agreement by SMHC and its parent company.

After submitting the revised Concession Agreement, along with the Risk Allocation Matrix, the NEDA and the Department of Finance (DOF) submitted their comments this August 9.

SMHC is now considering the comments, afterwhich the DOTr will start negotiating with the former to finalize the draft Concession Agreement for submission to the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) so the Swiss Challenge process can begin.

The proposal includes building 4 parallel runways and a passenger terminal with a 100 million passenger capacity per year.