MANILA — International Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCP) founder and chairman Francis Chua said Wednesday the proposed airport of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) in Bulacan could be the next main gateway of the capital.
Chua said with last week’s mishap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the airport is “no longer sustainable as our country’s main gateway.”
“With just two intersecting runways and virtually no space for additional runways, it cannot serve the needs of our growing economy and population, much less be a catalyst for economic growth,” the executive noted.
“Government should now put all its efforts to pave the way for a new international gateway outside of Metro Manila, which will serve as a long-term, future-proof solution to airport congestion problems that have held our country back for so long,” he added.
Chua said the ICCP believes that SMC’s New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Bulacan is “the best for the Philippines” as the new gateway to the capital.
SMC’s proposed airport is located 27 km. north of Metro Manila.
“At no cost to the government, and with no subsidies or guarantees required, San Miguel will build a futuristic ‘aerotropolis’ with up to four parallel runways, which can be expanded further to six,” Chua said.
“With capacity for 60 aircraft movements per runway per hour, this will eliminate all congestion issues and significantly raise our attractiveness as tourism and investment destination in the region,” he added.
The ICCP chair also noted that there are existing infrastructure and ongoing projects that connect the proposed airport to the National Capital Region.
Last April, the National Economic and Development Authority board approved the unsolicited proposal of SMC to develop the PHP736-billion Bulacan airport. The project is still up for a Swiss challenge. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)
