DOTr chief, airport execs inspect Sangley

MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and officials of other government air transportation agencies and private airliners yesterday inspected the airport in Sangley Point, Cavite in preparation for the full operation of the air terminal to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Tugade was accompanied by Michael Tan, son of Lucio Tan of Philippine Airlines, Lance Gokongwei of Cebu Pacific, Capt. Dexter Comendador of Air Asia, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general Jim Sydiongco and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) director Camelo Arcilla.

They went to survey Sangley, a former Philippine Air Force (PAF) base in Cavite, where operations of the NAIA General Aviation (GenAv) area would be transfered to decongest the country’s premier airport and prevent flight delays.

General aviation refers to all civil aviation operations such as light aircraft, single engine planes, propeller aircraft mostly used to ferry marine products, helicopters and private jets.

The GenAv area currently occupies 46 hectares of prime land with 87 occupants at the NAIA.

With the cooperation of private airline companies, the transfer of the GenAv area will be completed this year.

During last Monday’s Cabinet meeting, Tugade detailed proposals to convert Sangley Point or the Danilo Atienza Air Base into a GenAv hub to accommodate domestic flights.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Tamayo said operations to be moved from NAIA to Sangley would include the GenAv area and possibly some turbo prop flights of local airlines.

DOTr officials said PAL and Cebu Pacific intend to have some of their cargo flights using turbo prop operating at Sangley.

In compliance with Tugade’s directive for the accelerated construction at the Sangley airport, Transportation Assistant Secretary for procurement and project implementation Giovanni Lopez is coordinating with members of Task Force Sangley, including representatives from the CAAP, PAF, the ferry system and project contractor.

An ocular inspection was also conducted on the possible site of the ferry station, wherein the contractor was given two months to construct the port in coordination and compliance with the regulations of Philippine Ports Authority, CAAP, PAF and Philippine Navy.