The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it expects the construction of the P735-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan province to start by the second quarter of 2024.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the land development of the Bulacan airport was more than three-fourths finished.
San Miguel Corp. earlier awarded a $1.73-billion contract to the Philippine unit of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. to undertake land development for the airport project in Bulakan town.
“We expect structures to rise starting in the second quarter of 2024,” Bautista said.
San Miguel tapped the services of global firms Groupe ADPi, Meinhardt Group and Jacobs Engineering to design and build the project.
All three companies were involved in building world-class airports including Changi Airport in Singapore, Atlanta Airport in the US and Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.
The initial designs, some of which were released earlier, envision a future-ready airport focusing on overall passenger experience and sustainable technologies consistent with the needs of the environment and the local communities of Bulacan and nearby provinces.
San Miguel said it would also engage a world-class airport operator to help manage the country’s future premier gateway.
The company is building the project on a 2,500-hectare property in the coastal town about 30 kilometers northeast of Metro Manila at no cost to the government.
SMC’s Manila International Airport project, dubbed the largest investment in the Philippines, is seen as a “game-changer” for the Philippine economy. A long-awaited solution to Manila’s air traffic congestion woes, it is seen to make the country a more viable and competitive tourist and investment destination in the region.
It is also expected to generate over a million jobs and boost local economies.