After a series of upgrades and
additions to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have failed to
adequately provide service to, and address the crowding of, passengers arriving
and departing from the Philippines, the government has in years past decided to
tackle the problem from a new angle by building a new airport facility in the
Bulacan provincial coast not far from Metro Manila. The project for a New
Manila International Airport (NMIA) was first approved back in 2018, and in
September last year the Department of Transportation (DOTr) awarded the
contract to San Miguel Beer Corporation (SMC). But other than that there was no
indication on when to start.
The question mark regarding the
New Manila International Airport in Bulacan was answered on Wednesday, July 15
by the contractor San Miguel Corporation. CNN
Philippines reports that SMC made a disclosure for the Bulacan site,
revealing that they have heard back from the Department of Justice (DoJ) and
its review of the project. According to SMC President and COO Ramon Ang, the
company could begin work on building the NMIA anytime within three months from now,
or October if there are no other developmental delays.
The deal awarded to SMC’s San
Miguel AeroCity Inc. last September 2019 was to the tune of P734 billion, and afterwards
the company had to sign financial closures with the institutions that will
bankroll the airport construction. A date has not been given for these signings.
The proposed airport in Bulacan will be built by SMC, operated by AeroCity Inc.
for a set period of time, and ultimately transfer the facility over to full government
ownership in a “build-operate-transfer” program. Once completed, the NMIA,
located only 35 km away from the city of Manila to the north, will serve as a
new gateway hub to the Philippines and significantly reduce air traffic
congestion at NAIA.
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