Sangley airport project not a priority, but will undergo NEDA process

MANILA, Philippines — The proposal of the Cavite provincial government to build an international gateway in Sangley Point in Cavite would undergo the approval process of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) but may still not be among the priority projects of the government, the agency said. 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has approved the proposal to build a P552.018-billion international gateway at the former US naval facility. The project would be broken down in two phases with  the first segment estimated to cost some P208.487 billion and the second at P343.531 billion.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the project would be subjected to the NEDA approval process which culminates in the final approval by the NEDA Board chaired by the President. 

 “It will go though the normal process. Let’s see how it goes,” he said Friday. 

There is still no guarantee, however, that the project would be prioritized for implementation as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would still remain the premiere gateway along with two other airports within Mega Manila — the Clark International Airport in Pampanga and San Miguel’s proposed Bulacan International Airport which had already hurdled the NEDA approval process. 

Pernia first made the government’s position known in May and he said this remains the priority up to now. 

He had said the rehabilitation of NAIA would be prioritized over the proposed airport in Sangley as it would also serve as a “fallback position” in the event of delays in the construction of San Miguel’s Bulacan airport. 

NEDA is now reviewing the concession agreement for the P735 billion international airport in Bulacan proposed by San Miguel. If the review satisfies the desired government parameters for the project such as rate of return, it may be endorsed for the conduct of a Swiss challenge. 

Under a Swiss challenge, the government would invite other private groups to make competing offers for the unsolicited project. However, the original proponent has the right to match them.

The proposed international gateway would be constructed within a 2,500-hectare property in Marilao, Bulacan of which 1,168 hectares will be an airport complex while the remaining 1,332 hectares will serve as a city complex. The gateway is expected to be completed in six years upon approval, servicing 100 million passengers annually. 

The proposal of seven conglomerates to upgrade and operate NAIA, meanwhile, had been endorsed by the DOTr to the Manila International Airport Authority for the awarding of original proponent status. 

Pernia also said earlier that the Sangley airport project may have a hard time securing approval as President Duterte does not encourage reclamation projects.