In Preparation for New Manila International Airport, Coastal Area Cleanup to Commence

The proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan could be constructed in a 2,500-hectare coastal property.

San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC), a unit of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, whose unsolicited proposal was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board in April, laid out its plans to prepare the area in a statement Thursday.

This includes dredging the coastal areas, clearing it of garbage, working with the local government to stop companies from dumping toxic waste in the water, and heightened security along the entire Bulacan coastline.

"In line with this, the company is willing to augment the Coast Guard's efforts in conducting patrols-to ensure no dumping of garbage and industrial wastes occur," SMHC said in the statement.

This is expected to revive 12,000 hectares of Bulacan's coastline as a part of the P754-billion ($14 billion) development project.

"This is a major investment for us, and a game-changer for our country. That is why it's going to be a sustainable development," San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon Ang was quoted as saying in the statement.

He added that once the project is fully approved, it is expected to generate jobs for workers in Bulacan and neighboring provinces.

"This is a massive project and over the next five years, we estimate that we will generate millions of direct and indirect jobs, to build and operate New Manila International Airport," Ang said.

The NEDA Board has approved the results of negotiations between SMHC and the Department of Transportation last December 24. It will be up for review by the Solicitor General and the Department of Finance. 

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is aiming to start construction activities at its massive Bulacan airport project, being positioned as an alternative and eventual replacement to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), by 2019.
Once fully developed, the new gateway would have six parallel runways and a capacity of up to 100 million passengers a year. The project is located about 50 kilometers north of Manila.

The DOTr is also expected to award the operations of Naia, which suffers from congestion issues, to a group of conglomerates known as Naia Consortium by next year. The government is likewise expanding Clark International Airport, another alternative gateway located north of Bulacan province.

(Source : CNN | Inquirer)