intgames SPIA encounters delays before takeoff

An artist’s rendition of the $10-billion Sangley Point International Airport.  —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The $11-billion Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) remains up in the air as its contractor has yet to submit a detailed engineering design (DED), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, in an event hosted by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) in Makati on Monday, said the Virata-Yuchengco-led consortium was still finalizing the DED, which includes the project blueprint and cost estimates.

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At the same time, Bautista said they were also still working on a study with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to determine how can the Cavite airport serve as an extension of Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

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The transport chief, in the mean time, said they would want to “improve the existing facilities as a general aviation airport.”

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Bautista said the Sangley airport currently has two hangars. One is being operated by an airline flying passengers to Balesin while the other one uses the terminal to transport seafoods, he noted.

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Last year, the consortium inked with the Cavite provincial government a joint venture and development agreement for the construction of the alternative gateway to Naia.

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It previously targeted to hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the project by 2024.

The consortium seeks to provide an annual capacity of 25 million passengers initially. It also plans to create a second runway to expand capacity to 75 million passengers per year.

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The Virata-Yuchengco-led consortium—which was granted original proponent status (OPS) in Jan. 2022—bagged the Sangley contract in September 2022.

The foreign partners of the SPIA consortium are Munich Airport International Airport GmbH, which is Europe’s only five-star airport, and Samsung C&T Corp., the company that built the Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport and the extension of Changi Airport. It is also joined by Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. as a non-equity member providing management and technical services for aviation support.

Airport projects in the pipeline

While this project is encountering some delays, Bautista said they were pushing for the completion of other airport projects outside Metro Manila to improve connectivity.

He said the unsolicited proposals to develop the Laguindingan and Bohol-Pangalo airports were undergoing a Swiss challenge.

The DOTr is working with the World and Asian Development Bank for the launch of more airport public-private partnership projects next year. These include Basco, Busuanga, Cagayan, Tuguegarao, Bacolod, Calbayod, Catbalogan, Caterman, Camiguin, Davao, General Santos and Surigao.

The government is also looking at pursuing greenfield airports in Masbate, Naga, Pangasinan, Siargao and Zamboanga, Bautista noted.

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“We also continue to develop airports in islands and communities such as those in, Itbayatintgames, Maasin, Hilongos and Siquijor to improve air transport connectivity,” Bautista shared.

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