MacroAsia leaves fate of Sangley project to government

MANILA, Philippines — Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. is leaving the fate of Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) project to the government, which yesterday gave its go signal for the massive airport development to proceed.

“We are in agreement with the statement of the provincial governor that the final go-signal for the Sangley project will be up to the national government,” the publicly listed firm said in a disclosure to the stock exchange yesterday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said he is willing to cut ties with state-owned China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC) for the SPIA project should the national government say so.

CCCC subsidiaries are among the over two dozen Chinese companies blacklisted by the US for their involvement in reclamation activities in disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a briefing yesterday, put an end to doubts as to whether or not the airport development would push through, saying the “Sangley project will continue.”

“All other projects involving Chinese companies that are banned in the United States can continue in the Philippines. We are not a vassal state of any foreign power and we will pursue our national interest,” Roque said.

CCCC was previously debarred by the World Bank due to alleged fraudulent practices by one of its subsidiaries, China Road and Bridge Corp., with sanctions extending to the entire group under CCCC and all its affiliate companies worldwide.

The debarment was lifted in January 2017 and CCCC has since been allowed to participate in all World Bank Group-financed projects.

Right now, the MacroAsia-CCCC consortium has until Sept. 9 to complete the submission of their post qualification requirements for the SPIA project.

“We have been completing the qualification documents for the award, but the pandemic has delayed our processes, including the completion of joint venture documents prior to any signing of legal or financial contracts,” MacroAsia said.

The consortium last June was given a fresh three-month extension or until Sept. 9 to submit their post qualification requirements for the project.

It has already failed to meet the deadline for the second time on June 11 due to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The consortium was given last April a two-month extension or until June 11 within which to submit its post qualification documents, but MacroAsia had said it would need more time to submit the post-qualification requirements.

The SPIA is one of the highly anticipated airport projects in the country, as it is seen helping decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila once developed.

Last February, the provincial government of Cavite awarded to the team of MacroAsia and CCCC the $4-billion first phase of the SPIA project, which involves the development of an interim first runway with an annual design capacity for 25 million passengers and the new Sangley connector road and bridge.