Cavite aims for SG’s Changi in $10-B airport dream

The Cavite government wants to transform the Sangley Airport into a world-class gateway that will compete with the best in the region.

The local government unit kicked off the bidding process for the Sangley Point International Airport as it called on qualified companies to submit joint venture proposals until Nov. 25 this year.

The goal is to reclaim land and transform the former Air Force Base in Sangley Point, Cavite into a 1,500-hectare airport complex with multiple runways and a capacity of about 130 million passengers annually in a decade.

The whole project— which is being positioned as an alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport— is expected to cost about $10 billion.

“The airport is expected to be [on a par] with Singapore’s Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, as it is positioned to be the next big thing in air transport innovation in the country,” the Cavite government said.

The provincial government will be the lead proponent and implementing agency.

The project will be pursued under its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code. This means it will no longer require the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) for implementation.

“PPP has proven vital in improving the quality of infrastructure projects for the benefit of Filipinos, and we expect nothing less for Sangley Point International Airport here in Cavite,” Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said in a statement.

“We look forward to the joint venture because it will open new avenues not only in terms of stimulating efficiency for national economic growth, but also for the urbanization of Cavite,” he added.

The first phase of the project will involve an annual passenger capacity of 75 million and will be finished by 2022.

The Sangley Point International Airport is one of two brand-new gateways aimed at solving congestion in Naia.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation gave conglomerate San Miguel Corp. the go-signal to build the P735-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan. The Bulacan gateway is expected to have multiple parallel runways and passenger terminals to accommodate at least 100 million passengers per year.

A separate private sector group, Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., recently took control of operations of Pampanga’s Clark International Airport, another alternative to Naia. An ongoing expansion program will see Clark airport’s capacity double to eight million passengers annually starting mid-2020.

Meanwhile, the private sector-led Naia Consortium is seeking to expand and operate Naia.