JICA says Phl needs P436 B for new airport

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

JICA said in a discussion paper that the total construction cost for the new international airport including civil, building, and utility works as well as navigational equipment is P385 billion while engineering, management, and miscellaneous costs is pegged at P51 billion.

The new international airport would have a capacity of 130 million passengers per year as well as four runways that could handle 700,000 aircraft landings and take-offs per year.

Initially, JICA said at least P359.35 billion is needed to put up an independent parallel runway with a capacity of 400,000 aircraft movements per year a main terminal as well as low cost carrier passenger terminal with a combined capacity of 50 million passengers per year starting 2025.

JICA said the government needs another P76.57 billion over the medium term to add three more runways with a capacity of 500,000 aircraft movements per year and at the same time expand the main terminal as well as the LCC passenger terminal building to raise the capacity to 80 million passengers per year.

JICA is conducting a site selection study for the new international airport – a long-term development to be commenced and completed in 15 to 20 years.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) wants to put into operation a new international airport by 2027 with the joint development of the congested NAIA in Manila and the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

A JICA study showed that the number of passengers in Greater Capital Region would hit 106.7 million by 2040 from 31.88 million in 2012. It expects passengers from the National Capital Region as well as Central Luzon and CALABARZON would rise steadily to 49.8 million in 2020, 75 million in 2030, and 106.7 million in 2040.