The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) hopes to get the nod of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on the planned more than P400-billion alternative international airport at Sangley Point, Cavite before President Benigno Aquino III steps down next year.
Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the feasibility study on the suggested international gateway conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be out in June and for presentation to the NEDA Board chaired by Aquino.
“We have to finish that feasibility and hopefully this is good enough for NEDA’s requirements,” Abaya said.
Difficult
He noted that bidding out the project might be difficult, but “at least what we could do for whoever will replace us is to get a NEDA Board approval and make clear the direction of government.”
JICA, in a study, said the new gateway will cost P436 billion, of which P385 billion is allotted for civil, building, and utility works as well as navigational equipment, while P51 billion is for engineering, management, and miscellaneous costs.
The planned gateway is projected to have a capacity of 130 million passengers annually and operate four runways that could handle 700,000 aircraft landings and take-offs per year.
Sangley Point was chosen over Laguna de Bay for the aviation site because reclamation cost for the Cavite air hub would only be P120 billion against P240 billion for the latter.
The DOTC wants to put into operation a new international airport by 2027 while also undertaking the joint development of the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the underutilized Clark International Airport.
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