NEDA reviews Sangley airport proposal

MANILA, Philippines — The Cavite government’s unsolicited proposal to develop an international airport in Sangley still needs certain requirements as it is now being reviewed by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), a transport official said.

Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Tamayo said NEDA has asked the Cavite provincial government to complete and fix certain requirements.

“There are still documents that are lacking. (It is still unclear) what direction they are heading into and who the proponent will be. Is it the LGU? Is it the national government? I don’t think it’s going to be national government nor DOTr because they are the main proponent and we don’t have the intention as far as the DOTr is concerned,” he said.

Tamayo, however, said the proposal is “more of NEDA now than DOTr.”

Nonetheless, the recent development signifies the Cavite government’s interest in pushing through with the P552.018-billion unsolicited proposal to develop an international airport in Sangley, which has been given the green light by the DOTr in July last year.

Tamayo, in an interview last December, said the private sector’s unsolicited offer to develop an international airport in Sangley remains an alternative for the DOTr given the continued lack of progress in the proposal of the provincial government of Cavite.

“We can reject (their proposal). But we cannot reject right away because it’s government. No matter what you say it’s a local government, but there is a private sector that also submitted before them. So that’s the alternative,” Tamayo said, referring to the Tieng-led All Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp.’s $12-billion unsolicited proposal to finance, construct and develop a new airport to be called Philippine Sangley International Airport in Sangley, Cavite.

The proposal from the private group, however, was set aside as the DOTr prioritized the government offer. 

The Sangley airport projects are part of the DOTr’s multi-airport strategy seen to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila which serves as the country’s main international gateway.