MANILA, Philippines — The country’s top conglomerates have expressed interest to partner with the provincial government of Cavite to transform and develop Sangley Point into a world-class international airport.
Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said a total of six firms have so far bought bid documents for the implementation of the Sangley Point International Airport Project through a joint venture partnership scheme.
Remulla identified three of the six companies as Metro Pacific Group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, DMCI of the Consunji family and China Construction Co. – the sole interested foreign firm so far.
“I forgot the others, but so far they are the big groups,” he said.
Aside from the six companies which have already purchased the bid documents, Remulla said Ayala Corp. and the SM group have also expressed their interest to participate.
The Cavite government is giving interested parties until Nov. 11 to buy bid documents. Deadline for the submission of proposals is on Nov. 25.
Remulla said the winning bidder, which would be awarded before the year ends, would undertake construction of the airport and facilities.
The winning bidder will also be the one to choose who will operate and maintain the airport.
“The joint venture with the province is that we have a land company, we will reclaim the land, and then there will be an airport company who will put up the airport. So in terms of the land that is with the Cavite government, but in terms of operations,that is not our competency anymore,” he said.
The provincial government of Cavite is the lead proponent and implementing agency of the project which supports the Department of Transportation’s multi-airport strategy to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport , the country’s main international gateway.
The 1,500-hectare master-planned international airport hub will feature four runways, airside and landside facilities, and can accommodate up to 130 million passengers annually.
Remulla said the project is expected to break ground by Jan. 15 next year, with first runway to be completed in three years and then the four runways six years after.
“All in all, the reclamation component will cost maybe $3 billion, and then the airport itself including the runway, including the avionics, the terminal, will cost another $7 billion. So total cost is $10 billion,” he said.
“Everyone is bullish about this project, they see the advantages. Bulacan (airport) and us can coexist in a good manner. They will have the northern catch basin while we will have the south,” Remulla said.
The Cavite government has decided to pursue the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, which will no longer require the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for implementation.
The project will be offered with sovereign guarantee, according to Remulla.
Meanwhile, the Sangley Airport in Cavite will meet the November deadline set by President Duterte for its augmented operationalization with a planned inauguration next week.
By next week, the military air base is seen commencing general aviation and turboprop cargo operations, according to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.