P200 million allocated for Sangley airport road

MANILA, Philippines — The government is beefing up connectivity to Sangley, Cavite as plans to move general aviation and turboprop cargo operations to the military air base, as well as develop an international airport there are underway.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the DPWH is allocating about P200 million to develop a road going to Sangley airport.   

Villar said development of the road is eyed to commence next year, with the construction to last for more than a year. “We have budgeted for additional road there that passes through the coastal area that would connect directly to Sangley,” he said. 

“You can take CAVITEX (Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway) and by the end of CAVITEX, we’ll create a new road that will connect directly to Sangley. CAVITEX goes up to Kawit, Cavite and then it stops there. So once you go there, we’re going to create a connectivity,” he  said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched yesterday the ferry boat services to provide a new and alternative mode of transportation going to Cavite.

The ferry route will operate from the Metrostar Ferry Terminal in Cavite to CCP in Pasay City and vice versa, and from the Metrostar Ferry Terminal in Cavite to Lawton in Manila and vice versa.

With the new transport mode, the DOTr said the two to three-hour travel time from Manila to Cavite via land can be reduced to only 20 to 25 minutes via the ferry boat services.

“With this, the DOTr continues to harness its basket of solutions in its determined effort to enhance commuter connectivity and mobility. Offering this alternative mode of transportation is one significant step in achieving this aim, with the end view of making life more comfortable for Filipinos,” the agency said.

Shipping companies Seaborne Shipping Co. Inc. and Shogun Ships Co. will be offering free rides for one month starting today.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said there are also plans to have a Mall of Asia-Sangley ferry service route.

Tugade said the Sangley Airport will be inaugurated by Dec. 19.

The transport chief has previously ordered the accelerated construction of additional facilities at Sangley airport to 24/7 to meet the operational timeline set by President Duterte for the military air base to commence general aviation and turboprop operations.

The local government of Cavite is also undertaking a project to develop the Sangley airport into a world-class international gateway under the Public-Private Partnership Code, which will no longer require the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority for implementation.

The 1,500-hectare master-planned international airport hub will feature four runways, airside and landside facilities, and can accommodate up to 130 million passengers annually.

Its first runway is expected to be completed in three years or by 2022 as part of the project’s first phase. The second phase of development will follow with target completion on 2028.