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State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority plans to revise the Poro Point master plan to create a more integrated and comprehensive development package with focus on the potential of both the seaport and the airport.
“Poro Point to me, next to Clark, has the most potential in terms of everything. Location-wise, it’s just an hour from Taiwan, within three hours of every nearby countries. It has a deep seaport where cruise liners can easily dock and half a mile is the airport. There’s no other property in the Philippines that has that kind of design,” said BCDA president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon.
Dizon said he expected the new master plan to “hopefully fix the issues” within Poro Point.
BCDA is set to rebid the master plan for the free port.
“What is crucial for us is to be able to open the airport. It could really be the gateway to the north, approximately 45 minutes to Baguio, La Union, Pangasinan and Vigan,” said Dizon.
The existing terminal is in a very bad shape and needs to be renovated, he said.
“The runway is long enough but narrow, so we need to widen it. There is a lot of fixing to do and we will do them starting next year. There are some legal issues needing fixing. Hopefully we’ll be able to attend to that,” Dizon said.
He proposed to focus more on promoting tourism in the area to speed up the area’s development into a world-class destination.
Meanwhile, Dizon said BCDA would undertake a portion of the Bus Rapid Transit system starting 2017.
“Since we own the properties where Naia airport is located, we can start earlier and we can also finish earlier, possibly by end-2019,” he said.
Most BCDA-led portion from the Bonifacio Global City to Ninoy Aquino International Airport is at grade level, but the agency needs to dig tunnels under Sales Avenue near Resorts World Manila in Pasay City to make way for underground stations for Naia Terminal 1, Naia 2 and Naia 3.
“There is no way we can squeeze for space above. There is already the interchange,” said Dizon.