Go: Bulacan airport to decongest Metro Manila, boost regional development

MANILA, Philippines — The new airport set to rise in Bulacan will be perfect in complementing the government’s program to decongest Metro Manila and boost regional development, Sen. Bong Go said the other day.

During the Senate regular session on Wednesday, Go co-sponsored House Bill No. 7507, granting San Miguel Aerocity Inc. a franchise to construct, develop, establish, operate and maintain a domestic and international airport and its adjacent airport city in Bulakan, Bulacan.

“I just want to very briefly state that I fully support the move to open a new airport in Bulacan, thanks to the efforts of San Miguel Corp.,” said Go, President Duterte’s closest ally in the Senate.

He said the new airport would complement the government’s Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program which encourages Metro Manila residents to explore better economic opportunities and start anew in their home provinces

“This project is a prime example of how the public and private sectors can work hand-in-hand in building a better future for our people,” he said.

The senator said the project contributes solutions to many of the problems in the capital, especially in the midst of the disruption caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“This will go a long way towards providing jobs and other economic opportunities outside Metro Manila, and will help decongest our urban areas,” he said in Filipino.

Go said the new airport would operate in line with the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program, which endeavors to improve infrastructure, provide employment, raise the standard of living in neighboring areas, and decongest the capital.

“The establishment of this airport will help us realize these goals,” he said, noting that the construction project comes with a terminal building, airside and landside facilities and an 8.4-kilometer tollway to serve as airport access connecting to North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan.

He then cited the support for the project of Senators Joel Villanueva of Bulacan and Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City, who he said “know very well the desires of the people of Bulacan and its neighboring provinces.”

Still, Go reminded proponents of the project to ensure that laws, rules and regulations, particularly those related to labor and the environment, must be observed strictly in the construction of the Bulacan airport.

He commended the bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Grace Poe, for her commitment to these measures and expressed that he will help coordinate with executive agencies to ensure that the objectives of the project are realized.

Meanwhile, Go expressed support for extending the franchise of Davao Light and Power Co., which provides electricity under the leadership of Aboitiz Corp.