SPIA Development Consortium, which consists of major local and foreign conglomerates, secured an original proponent status from the provincial government of Cavite to develop a $10.9-billion international airport in Sangley Point.
The grant of the OPS gives the consortium, which is composed of Cavitex Holdings Inc., Yuchengco Group, MacroAsia Corp. and their foreign partners, the right to directly negotiate the final terms and conditions of the joint venture with the province and the right to match the best counter proposal that may be received during the 60-day mandatory competitive or Swiss Challenge process.
Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla issued the certificate of acceptance to the consortium on Jan. 7. He said the, “acceptance of the unsolicited proposal is a clear sign of the province’s commitment to deliver this nationally significant and legacy project to the Filipino people”.
“We are very glad and hopeful that this consortium made up of reputable domestic and well-known global development and investment companies will help us successfully complete the project,” he said.
The consortium submitted the unsolicited proposal in November to form a joint venture with Cavite province for the SPIA project. The provincial government previously declared a second failed bidding after no bids were received for the airport project in October.
The long-delayed Sangley Airport project is envisioned as a fully modernized, world-class and green airport that is designed to meet an anticipated increase in demand for air transport in the next 30 to 40 years, and as operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are eventually phased out to allow for a development of the site and its surrounding areas.
The consortium said in a statement that as soon as the project is awarded, they are ready to transform Sangley airport into a premium gateway that can provide an alternative to the congested NAIA, thereby significantly boosting economic growth and enhancing the local tourism and aviation industries.
It said the Sangley Point International Airport project is needed as a complementary airport to NAIA given post-pandemic requirements, and help accelerate government initiatives for economic recovery.
After final planning, design and financial closing, the work would immediately begin with the construction of a 4.6-kilometer connector road from Kawit Interchange of Cavitex leading to Sangley, with the time of completion estimated at two years, the consortium said.
The SPIA Development Consortium is composed of a powerhouse group of highly reputable Philippine developers and investors and global companies with enviable track records in developing large-scale infrastructure projects.
Joining the local companies are renowned global firms Samsung C&T Corporation of South Korea, Munich Airport International GmbH and London-based Arup Group.