Sangley Point international airport project carries P436-B price tag

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Photo from Sangley Airport Facebook page
Photo from Sangley Airport Facebook page
Photo from Sangley Airport Facebook page

The Philippines needs P436 billion to construct a new international airport at Sangley Point in Cavite, according to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In a discussion paper, JICA said construction cost for the new international airport, including civil, building, and utility works, as well as acquisition costs for navigational equipment, will reach P385 billion, while engineering, management, and miscellaneous costs will entail an additional P51 billion.

The JICA-proposed new aviation hub will have four runways that can handle 700,000 aircraft landings and takeoffs per year, and will have an annual capacity of 130 million passengers by 2050.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said it will seek Malacañang’s approval of the infrastructure roadmap for Metro Manila prepared by JICA and the National Economic and Development Authority.

JICA said that, initially, at least P359.35 billion is needed to put up an independent parallel runway with a capacity of 400,000 aircraft movements per year. The amount will include the establishment of a main terminal and a low-cost carrier passenger terminal with a combined capacity of 50 million passengers per year by 2025.

Another P76.57 billion is needed over the medium term to add three more runways with a capacity of 500,000 aircraft movements per year, and expand the main and passenger terminals to further increase passenger capacity by 80 million passengers annually.

If approved this year, the new airport project can be operational by 2017, JICA noted.

The roadmap also suggests supplemental infrastructure projects that will lead to the international airport, such as new expressways and bridges, and railway expansion.

DOTC wants to put into operation a new international airport by 2027 while developing Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.