San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said Monday land development for its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan province is advancing and complies with international best practices, supported by global marine infrastructure company Boskalis Westminster.
The announcement comes as the conglomerate moves to address “inaccurate and misleading” online posts casting doubt on the project’s viability.
SMC said the development meets the rigorous environmental and social performance standards set by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), which serves as the benchmark for infrastructure projects backed by multilateral lenders.
These standards, which govern project design, risk mitigation and community safeguards, “exceed typical local regulations and ensure that all development works meet the highest global standards,” the company said in a statement.
Boskalis Westminster confirmed its ongoing technical and advisory engagement, ensuring all works adhere to internationally recognized standards.
SMC said very few projects in the Philippines operate under this level of environmental and social commitment.
The development is guided by extensive hydrological studies, independent engineering reviews and continuous environmental monitoring.
The project includes long-term flood-mitigation measures for surrounding communities, and SMC continues to undertake river cleanup and rehabilitation efforts across Bulacan and nearby provinces at no cost to the government.
The company committed hundreds of billions of pesos to build the major international gateway. While it did not specify the exact amount, it reiterated its commitment to completing the project “responsibly and in accordance with global best practices.”
Addressing online claims, SMC said the posts do not reflect actual progress on the ground and can create unnecessary public confusion and stakeholder concern.
“We encourage anyone with questions about the project to raise them through proper channels, where they can be discussed transparently and with access to verified technical information,” SMC said.
The company confirmed it asked Meta to review pages that repeatedly disseminate misleading information while concealing their identity, in line with the platform’s policies.
