6 firms bid for $10-B Sangley Airport

Sangley Airport is being developed to cater to general aviation flights and limited commercial operations.

Sangley Airport is being developed to cater to general aviation flights and limited commercial operations

At least five local and one Chinese firms are interested in the redevelopment of the $10 billion Sangley Airport which aims to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

This was bared by Cavite Governor John Victor Remulla who said the local government has submitted a joint venture proposal for the redevelopment of the airport.

“We’ve submitted all the requirements and we have offered already our bid documents,” he said.

Of the six who are interested, five are from the Philippines and one from China, Remulla told reporters at the sidelines of the Department of Transportation’s (DoTR) operational dry run of the airport.

“The deadline for the securing bid is on 11 November. After that they will submit their tender (offer) on 25 November,” he added.

Among the local firms who showed interest include D.M. Consunji, Inc., Ayala Corp. and SM Group.

Meanwhile, China Construction Company also said it is interested in forging a partnership with the Cavite government for the development of the airport.

Remulla added that while a Chinese group has already lined up, they are also looking to tap potential partners from the United States, Japan and Korea.

The Sangley Airport project is led by the local government of Cavite under the public-private partnership scheme, which means the process bypasses the National Economic and Development Authority approval.

“We have to make (the procedure) simpler. If a government corporation wants, it has to go through procurement and other processes and you cannot run an airport efficiently that way,” Remulla explained.

He said Cavite will take charge of the land reclamation worth $3 billion as required by the project proposal.

The first phase of the project worth $3 billion will be completed by 2022.

It is initially projected to serve about 25 million passengers yearly.

However, the DoTR said future phases of the project will depend on the decision of the Duterte administration.

The Sangley Airport caters to general aviation flights and limited commercial operations.

On Tuesday, the DoTR started the operational dry run of the airport. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the department is expected to release results of the dry run in six months.