MANILA, Philippines — The proponents of the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) project in Cavite have asked for more time to complete their post qualification requirements.
“They asked me for a three week extension,” Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla told The STAR via text message, referring to the consortium of Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and state-owned China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC).
MacroAsia and its Chinese partner were given last June a fresh three-month extension or until Sept. 9 to complete the submission of their post qualification requirements for the SPIA project.
The consortium already failed to meet its deadline for the second time last June 11 due to challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, MacroAsia said it has been completing the qualification documents for the award but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed its processes, including the completion of joint venture documents prior to any signing of legal or financial contracts.
The provincial government of Cavite awarded last February 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.
The consortium will also have the right of first offer for the second phase of the SPIA project, which will expand the development for a second runway with an annual design capacity for 75 million passengers.