The Department of Transportation gave the Cavite provincial government until the middle of the year to resolve the issues on its unsolicited proposal to develop an international airport in Sangley Point.
“It’s [Cavite government unsolicited proposal] still pending with Neda [National Economic and Development Authority. The issue I think is still the [source of] funding,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Neda returned in January Cavite provincial government’s unsolicited proposal to build a new international airport over the alleged unclear implementing arrangement for the project.
The Cavite provincial government submitted to Neda the full feasibility study for the project on Dec. 17, 2018. Sangley International Airport is expected to cost more than P500 billion.
Tugade said that the national government would not help the Cavite government in funding the project.
He said the agency was giving the Cavite government “a reasonable period” to resolve the issues on its proposal to develop an international airport.
“By mid this year, there should be a decision one way or the other,” he said.
Tugade clarified that the DOTr had not yet rejected the proposal of Solar Group’s All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. to develop an international airport in Sangley Point.
“Under the rules, if there is a government-to-government offer and there is a private offer, the priority is the government. So before you talk of any other options, you should talk first about the offer of the government,” Tugade said.
When asked if the agency is still considering the private proponent, Tugade said: “Of course, options will always with them.”
He said the government options should not delay the development of Sangley airport.
“We already completed the asphalt overlay of the runway. I believe in the value and use of the Sangley [airport] and my strategy is I will not wait. I am also talking to the proponent about reimbursement to the government. But I won’t delay the repair of the runway,” Tugade said.
Sangley Airport Infrastructure Group Inc., a consortium led by Solar Group’s All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal to build the Philippine Sangley International Airport for $12 billion.
Another crucial portion of the ARRC development plan is the rehabilitation of Danilo Atienza Air Base which will be later used as a general aviation airport to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals during the project development phase.
ARRC proposed a concession period of 50 years for the Sangley International Airport.
Under the proposal, the project will start with the reclamation of about 2,500 hectares of land north of the Sangley peninsula which will be used for the development of airport infrastructure and a commercial establishment to complement the project.
Sangley airport would be designed with two parallel independent runways and sufficient airside and terminal capacity to accommodate future demand for the domestic and the international traffic, not only for the Philippines but also for Southeast Asia.