2 major airport projects prepare for 2020 liftoff

Barring few remaining issues, two big-ticket airport projects should soon take off, according to President Duterte’s chief infrastructure adviser.

Presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects Vivencio B. Dizon said as far as the San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-led P735.6-billion New Manila International Airport was concerned, there were “just a few issues that are being discussed by the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and the proponent.”

He said he was not privy to issues still being resolved, but noted the groundbreaking of the massive aerotropolis in Bulacan would be up to SMC and that “the contract is already signed.” Due diligence is ongoing, according to Dizon.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III added there was no more issue on the part of the government with regard to the New Manila International Airport.

According to an updated list of 100 projects under “Build, Build, Build,” the flagship infrastructure program of the Duterte administration, the new airport was to “commence construction in six to eight months.”

The list, last revisited on Feb. 17, also showed the P102.1-billion rehabilitation of the country’s main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), was also to start in the next six to eight months.

Only the issue on the people mover, or the bus system that will transport passengers within the complex, would have to be ironed out by the DOTr, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the consortium led by seven tycoons, Dizon said. A clearer decision should be available in the next few days, he added.

“It’s a technical issue that is now being negotiated by the MIAA, the DOTr, and the proponents. Once that is resolved, then there’s no more issue to be addressed and [the project] should move forward,” Dizon said.

The New Manila International Airport and the Naia rehabilitation projects are two of 15 unsolicited public-private partnership (PPP) projects recently included in the “Build, Build, Build” program. INQ