Business group backs Bulacan airport proposal

MANILA, Philippines — The International Chamber of Commerce-Philippines (ICCP) sees San Miguel Corp.’s proposed international airport in Bulacan as the best airport proposal for the country as it urged the government to focus on building a new international gateway outside Metro Manila as a long term solution to congestion.

“After carefully studying all airport proposals, we strongly believe that SMC’s new Manila international airport proposal is the best for the Philippines,” ICCP chairman Francis Chua said in a statement yesterday.

He said the recent incident involving Xiamen Air’s plane, which skidded off Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s runway and paralyzed airport operations, has brought to clearer light inherent problems of the country’s main gateway and why it is no longer sustainable.

As the NAIA has no space for additional runways and could no longer serve the needs of the growing economy and population, he said the government should work on having a new international airport outside Metro Manila.

“Government should now put all its efforts to pave the way for a new international gateway outside Metro Manila, which will serve as a long-term, future-proof solution to airport congestion problems that have held our country back for so long,” he said.

The group is of the view SMC’s proposed airport is the best proposal for the country as it could accommodate future growth, with the plan involving an aerotropolis with up to four parallel runways and could be expanded further to six.

SMC’s project, which involves the construction of a 1,168-hectare airport and a 2,500-hectare city complex, is expected to be completed in six years upon approval.

With a capacity for 60 aircraft movements per runway per hour, Chua said the proposed airport would eliminate all congestion issues and make the country a more attractive tourism and investment destination.

He said the modern air terminals and cargo facilities, as well as the seaport and industrial zone, would help provide convenience and growth opportunities for the country.

The group also sees SMC’s proposed airport as the best option when it comes to accessibility.

Located just north of Metro Manila in Bulacan, Bulacan, or some 27 kilometers from the present NAIA, Chua said such would be accessible within 45 minutes or less from anywhere in Metro Manila via multiple expressways.

“It’s about time we have a truly world-class airport we can all be proud of—one that will rival the best in the region and the world. Our country needs it, and our people deserve it,” he said.

Last June, Rolando Tungpalan, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary for investment programming, said the draft concession agreement for the Bulacan airport is under review by an interagency group.

He said if the draft is consistent with what the NEDA board has approved, the Swiss challenge for the proposal could proceed.

Aside from SMC’s proposed Bulacan airport, the government has received other airport proposals.

The NAIA Consortium which is composed of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates, namely Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. has secured original proponent status for its offer to upgrade the main international gateway at a cost of around P106 billion for a concession period of 15 years.

There is also a proposal from the provincial government of Cavite to develop the Sangley airport amid congestion at the NAIA.

Last year, NAIA had 42 million passengers, higher than its designed capacity of 31 million passengers.     – Louella Desiderio