Wikipedia

New Manila International Airport

New Manila International Airport[a] (Filipino: Bagong Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Maynila), also known as Bulacan International Airport (Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Bulacan), is an international airport under construction on the coastal areas of Bulakan, Bulacan, 35 km (22 mi) north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The project was proposed by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and is set to help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the main gateway to the capital for air travelers.[1][2][5]

New Manila International Airport

Bagong Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Maynila
Logo
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of the Philippines[1]
OperatorSan Miguel Aerocity Inc.[2]
ServesGreater Manila Area
LocationBarangays Taliptip and Bambang, Bulakan, Bulacan
Coordinates14°44′24″N 120°52′30″E / 14.74000°N 120.87500°E / 14.74000; 120.87500
Websitewww.sanmiguel.com.ph/page/san-miguel-aerocity-inc
Map
New Manila International Airport is located in Bulacan
New Manila International Airport
New Manila International Airport
Location in Bulacan
New Manila International Airport is located in Luzon
New Manila International Airport
New Manila International Airport
Location in Luzon
New Manila International Airport is located in Philippines
New Manila International Airport
New Manila International Airport
Location in the Philippines
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06L/24R 3,500 11,483 Concrete
06R/24L 3,500 11,483 Concrete
07L/25R 3,500 11,483 Concrete
07R/25L 3,500 11,483 Concrete

The proposed airport will be built on a 2,500-hectare (6,200-acre) coastal property as part of an envisioned 12,000-hectare (30,000-acre) township that features a residential zone, government center, seaport and an industrial zone.[6] The ₱735.634-billion airport development will cover the passenger terminal building with airside and landside facilities as well as an airport toll road and railway.

The groundbreaking of the new airport began on October 14, 2020, and the actual construction of the first phase of construction on the project, which includes the two runways and the terminal buildings of the new airport began on March 18, 2022. It is planned to be finished by 2028.[7][8]

History

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Background

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See also: List of airports in the Greater Manila Area § Proposed new Manila airport

A report by The Manila Times in 1972, just before Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos, stated that the airport would be moved to Bulacan to replace the older one in Pasay and Parañaque. The transport link would have been connected to the Manila North Diversion Road (now called the North Luzon Expressway). However, the plans were eventually cancelled.

As early as the 1980s, there has been recognition of the constraints to expanding the capacity of Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and its continued ability to handle the projected growth in aircraft movements and passenger traffic.[9]

In May 2011, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) submitted to the Philippine government a study concerning air transport needs within the Greater Manila Area, which concluded that the development of a new gateway airport was "an urgent need" given that the runway capacity at the existing Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was "already almost saturated."[9] In response, the government adopted a dual airport system in May 2013, which entailed the upgrade of the facilities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport while also expanding capacity at Clark International Airport.[10] JICA later recommended the construction of a new airport in the vicinity of Sangley Point, Cavite City[11][12] and conducted a full feasibility study.[12]

Meanwhile, competing proposals from San Miguel Corporation headed by Ramon Ang and the All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corporation (ARRC) venture headed by Henry Sy were submitted to the national government by 2013. However, the Aquino administration rejected the unsolicited proposals, stating that they "spark controversies" that detract from the "open, transparent bidding" they intended for the project.[13] This would be later reversed by the succeeding administration, which expressed interest in developing multiple airports for the Greater Manila Area.[14]

In February 2017, San Miguel Corporation proposed the construction of an airport with two parallel 3.5-kilometer (2.2 mi) runways under a BOT scheme.[15] The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the unsolicited proposal on April 26, 2018[16] and negotiation report on the Concession Agreement (CA) on December 21, 2018. Under the approved terms, the concession agreement includes a no government guarantee or any form of subsidy from the state.[17]

SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang said the projects, which would be wholly funded by the firm with no government guarantees or subsidies, will improve the lives of more Filipinos by promoting numerous industries and creating millions of quality jobs around the country.[18]

Development

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After the project's approval by NEDA, the project had its final review of the Office of the Solicitor-General (OSG) and the Department of Finance (DOF) before it undergone a Swiss challenge where other prospective companies will compete against the San Miguel Corporation proposal. As the original project proponent, SMC has the right to match any bid by its competitors. The Department of Transportation, the implementing agency for the project, aimed to finish Swiss challenge by the first quarter of 2019.[19] The Swiss challenge period ended with no rival bids on July 31, 2019.[20] With this, SMC was expected to be awarded the project.[21]

 
Bulacan Airport construction (Taliptip-Bambang section, March, 2024)

On September 18, 2019, San Miguel Corporation, through its unit San Miguel Aerocity Inc., was awarded a ₱734-billion deal to oversee, then hand over the project by the Department of Transportation after both firms signed a concession agreement for the building of the new airport at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone.[1][2] The airport will be fully owned by the Philippine government under a build-operate-transfer program.[1] DOTr allowed the SMC unit to build, maintain, and operate the airport without funding from the government for a set period of time.[2] Its groundbreaking was supposed to begin in December.[2]

On September 1, 2020, Congress approved House Bill No. 7507, granting the San Miguel Aerocity a 50-year congressional franchise "to establish a domestic and international airport", and to "develop an adjacent airport city".[22] Its construction was expected to begin in October of the same year.[23] House Bill No. 7507 lapsed into law as Republic Act No. 11506 on December 20, 2020, records from the House of Representatives showed, after President Rodrigo Duterte failed to sign the bill within the 30-day period given for Malacañang's review.[24]

Upon its approval, some groups raised concerns about the environmental impact of the project, and that the project may intensify flooding in the areas adjacent to the airport. The presence of mangrove forests in the area were also noted. Agham, an environmental science advocacy group, advocated that the Environmental Clearance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources be revoked.[25][26] On October 8, 2019, Pamalakaya national chairman and former Anakpawis representative Fernando Hicap requested that then House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano conduct a congressional inquiry on the airport project and its potential adverse impacts.[27][28][29] Some environmental issues remain unaddressed although SMC has clarified that some of their activities, such as the dredging of the Tullahan River in Metro Manila, may alleviate flooding issues.[30] Engineering interventions will also be used to mitigate flooding.[31]

Pamalakaya-Bulacan spokesperson Rodel Alvarez also claimed that there was a lack of relocation plan for the residents and fishermen who would be potentially affected by the project. The DENR denied that local fishermen will be affected, as the lands that will be used are from private landowners.[25] On 30 September 2020, San Miguel Corporation launched its skills and livelihood training for relocation of residents affected by the project.[32][33]

The scheduled groundbreaking in December 2019 faced a delay, which according to DOTr secretary Arthur Tugade was due to an issue over the "wording and interpretation" of the concession agreement with the SMC. The issue covered conditions on material adverse government action, which is concerned with the compensation to the concessionaire in the event the project is adversely affected by the actions of the national government, and on caps on liabilities of the government. Nevertheless, DOTr stated these delays were temporary and the project would still go on after reviews conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ).[34][35]

In connection to the airport's development, Congress passed House Bill No. 7575 creating an economic zone and freeport covering the airport's vicinity. However, on July 1, 2022, the bill was vetoed by President Bongbong Marcos over fiscal risks, incoherence with existing laws, and the proposed economic zone's location near the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone.[36] A revised version of the bill lapsed into law on June 13, 2024.[37]

Construction

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Dredging by Boskalis as of November 2022

San Miguel Corporation tapped three international firms, Groupe ADP Ingénierie, Meinhardt Group and Jacobs Engineering Group (the same builders behind Changi Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Charles de Gaulle Airport) to build and design the airport.[38] The Dutch dredging firm Boskalis Westminster was selected for the development of approximately 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of land for the new airport.[39] By June 2021, preparatory work was in progress, with the land development project expected to be completed by the end of 2024.[39][40]

"Saribuhay sa Dampalit"

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San Miguel Aerocity Inc. with the presence of Dutch Ambassador Maria Alfonsa Magdalena Geraedts inaugurated on February 23, 2024 the 40-hectare (99-acre) "Saribuhay sa Dampalit" in Pamarawan, Malolos, Bulacan. It is the Philippines’ first and largest Biodiversity Offset Program as noted by Toni Yulo-Loyzaga. As part of its New Manila International Airport, it adheres to the International Finance Corporation environment and social standards.[41] In November, SMC is an awardee of Asia-Pacific's 25 Steward Leadership Excellence for its "Saribuhay sa Dampalit" program. The site serves as stopover for wader bird migration along East Asian–Australasian Flyway and a nayural flood protection.[42]

Airport facilities

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The proposed airport will feature at least 4 runways, expandable to 6.[43][44] It will have a capacity of 200 million passengers per year when fully built, which is about 6 times larger than the current capacity of NAIA.[20] The first phase of the project will include 2 of the 4 runways.[7]

It will also be connected to Metro Manila by an airport toll road with connections to the North Luzon Expressway and Radial Road 10.[44] The airport will also be connected by rail to the MRT Line 7 through the MRT 7 Airport Express project.[45]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ San Miguel Corporation officially refers to the airport as Manila International Airport.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "San Miguel, DOTr sign deal to build new Bulacan airport". ABS-CBN News. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lopez, Melissa Luz (September 18, 2019). "Bulacan airport deal signed, construction to start December". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  3. ^ Mercurio, Richmond (June 19, 2021). "SMC working quietly on Bulacan airport – Tugade". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Gonzales, Iris (June 14, 2021). "SMC sets P100 billion capex for 2021". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Vera, Ben O. de (March 9, 2020). "2 major airport projects prepare for 2020 liftoff". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (December 27, 2018). "Bulacan airport to revive 12,000 has. of coastline". Manila Standard. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Gonzales, Iris (October 7, 2020). "SMC to start construction of Bulacan airport". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Rosales, Elijah Felice (July 25, 2023). "Bulacan airport nearing construction stage". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "JICA study cites urgency of NAIA situation". The Philippine Star. August 15, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  10. ^ "JICA tapped to study NAIA replacement". ABS-CBN News. October 24, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  11. ^ Agcaoili, Lawrence (January 2, 2015). "JICA to complete study on Sangley airport in June". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "New airport: JICA formally recommends Sangley". ABS-CBN News. June 16, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Marasigan, Lorenz S. (February 13, 2015). "Proposed $11-B Sangley Point Airport project hits major snag". Business Mirror. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Delavin, Imee Charles C. (March 23, 2017). "Gov't shifts airport strategy; to develop multiple gateways". BusinessWorld. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  15. ^ Camus, Miguel R. (February 15, 2017). "DOTr reviews San Miguel's P700B Bulacan airport". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  16. ^ SMC's airport proposal, 7 other projects get NEDA Board approval
  17. ^ NEDA Board approves negotiation report on P735-B Bulacan airport
  18. ^ Bulacan International Airport Project Gets Financial Support From San Miguel Corporation (SMDC)
  19. ^ DOTr eyes to finish Swiss challenge for Bulacan airport project by Q1 2019
  20. ^ a b Unavailable, Unavailable. "New Manila International Airport Project". PPP Philippine Government. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  21. ^ "SMC seen to bag Bulacan airport project this week". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  22. ^ Cruz, RG Cruz (September 1, 2020). "House approves on 2nd reading San Miguel's franchise for Bulacan airport". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Bulacan Int'l Airport to start construction by October – SMC". CNN Philippines. July 15, 2020. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  24. ^ "San Miguel gets 50-year franchise for Airport City project in Bulacan as bill lapses into law". CNN Philippines. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Mayuga, Jonathan; Cabuag, VG. "ECC for SMC Bulacan airport plan justified, but draws flak". BusinessMirror. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  26. ^ "Group to Cimatu: Revoke ECC for Bulacan Aerotropolis project". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  27. ^ San Juan, Ratziel (October 8, 2019). "Ex-solon asks Cayetano to probe SMC's Bulacan airport project". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  28. ^ Garcia, Angelo G. (January 19, 2020). "Why the proposed new airport in Bulacan might hurt the country's seafood supply". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  29. ^ "Fisherfolk protest lack of relocation plan in Bulacan airport project". GMA News. August 9, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  30. ^ "SMC says dredging project to solve 'aerotropolis' flooding concerns". BusinessWorld. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  31. ^ "'Engineering interventions' to mitigate flooding in new airport in Bulacan, says Ramon Ang". ABS-CBN News. September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  32. ^ "San Miguel Corp. begins skills, livelihood training for locals near Bulacan Airport site". CNN. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  33. ^ "SMC starts training workers for airport". Manila Bulletin. September 2, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  34. ^ Camus, Miguel R. (December 3, 2019). "$15-B Bulacan airport project faces delay". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  35. ^ Esmael, Lisbet K. (February 26, 2020). "Bulacan airport project to push through despite delays". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  36. ^ Yang, Angelica Y.; Cabico, Gaea Katreena; Romero, Alexis (July 2, 2022). "Marcos Jr. vetoes bill creating SMC's Bulacan Airport City economic zone, freeport". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  37. ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (June 29, 2024). "Bulacan freeport bill lapses into law". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  38. ^ "SMC partners with international firms to build Bulacan airport". CNN Philippines. August 13, 2019. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Boskalis receives EUR 1.5 billion land development project for Manila International Airport in the Philippines". Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  40. ^ Mercurio, Richmond. "SMC working quietly on Bulacan airport – Tugade". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  41. ^ Loyola, James (February 26, 2024). "SMC launches Philippines' first biodiversity offset site". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  42. ^ Silverio, Frederick (November 6, 2024). "SMC wins award for biodiversity offset program in Bulacan". Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  43. ^ "LOOK: New Manila International Airport in Bulacan proposed design released". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  44. ^ a b "SMC gears up for P734-B airport project". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  45. ^ "MRT 7 Airport Express". www.ppp.gov.ph. Public-Private Partnership Center. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
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