Aquino Sangley International Airport

NAIA's Future


June 16, 2013

By Jerry E. Esplanada


Amid the deflating news of the massive dumping of Philippine stocks by foreign investors last week come bracing words from the foreign partners of a local consortium proposing to build an international airport and seaport on reclaimed land off Cavite City.

“They’re (the foreign partners) bullish about the Philippines and its development prospects, particularly the development of the country’s newest international gateway, one that will be responsive to the nation’s booming economy and thriving tourism industry,” said William Tieng, chairman of Solar Group, the lead local partner of All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. (ARRC) consortium.

The ARRC is the local proponent of a proposed project to redevelop Sangley Point, the former United States naval station on the tip of the Cavite peninsula. The base was officially turned over to the government of the Philippines in 1971, ending 73 years as a US facility. It is now operated as a military base by the Philippine Air Force (the Danilo Atienza Air Base) and the Philippine Navy (the Heracleo Alano Naval Base).

“These foreign business entities have expressed in writing their firm commitment to participate in these modern and major job-generating projects,” Tieng said.

Tieng’s brother Wilson sits as chair of ARRC while Manuel Beriña Jr., former deputy director general of Public Estates Authority (PEA), is the firm’s president and CEO.

Tieng said their foreign partners, mostly Europe-based, include: Flugfahen Munich, operator of the Munich airport in Germany; Hamburger Hafen und Logstik, the biggest operator in the Hamburg port, also in Germany; the Italian rail company Ferrovie Circumvesuviana; power firm Isoluc Corsan; Deutsche Bank; COWI, Inros Lackner and GMP Architects; contractors Hochtief and Rizzani de Eccher; and Royal Boskalis Westminster, the lead reclamation contractor.

Sangley Pt. redevelopment

The ARRC submitted last Jan. 10 its letters of intent to undertake the twin projects to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), the renamed PEA, the agency that acts as the clearing house for reclamation projects in the country.

The Inquirer has obtained copies of both letters, where Beriña proposed, among other things, naming their airport and seaport projects as ASIA and ASIS, short for Aquino-Sangley International Airport and the Aguinaldo-Sangley International Seaport, respectively.

He said the ARRC proposal was “in response to the need to develop premier international gateways in the country, as well as Executive Order No. 629, Series of 2007, directing the PRA to convert Sangley Point in Cavite City into an international logistics hub with a modern airport and seaport through an enabling reclamation component.”

The ARRC concept was “drafted in line with the vision of placing the Philippines in the forefront of international trade development. The concept project proposal will be undertaken in two phases at Danilo Atienza Air Base on Sangley Point,” Beriña said.

Proposed airport


 
Construction of Phase 1 of ASIA, or the airport project, is estimated to run from 2014 to 2018 (or up to 2020).
It calls for the “reclamation of 2,500 hectares on the flight line of the Atienza Air Base, development of a 50-million-a-year airport terminal and the first of two runway systems estimated to cost P56.2 billion and P45 billion, respectively,” the letter of intent read.

“The development of a 50-million-a-year passenger terminal is demand-driven based on the current 31 million annual passenger traffic in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the capacity of which is constrained by limited space,” it said.

Based on Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) statistics, the four Naia terminals handled a total of 31.6 million airline passengers in 2012, an increase of 6.2 percent from 29.7 million passengers serviced in 2011. The 2012 figure is composed of nearly 14 million passengers who boarded international flights and 17.6 million passengers who took domestic flights.

Naia Terminals 1 and 2 have been operating way above their original designed capacities of 4.5 million and 7.5 million annually.

In 2011, Naia 1 was named the world’s worst airport by “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports,” an interactive website that gathers reports from various reviewers.

The ranking was based on reviews of travelers who complained, among other things, of safety concerns, lack of comfortable seating, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities and general hassles of being in the airport.

In its letters of intent, the ARRC also proposed the “redevelopment of the Naia complex with the relocation of the Atienza Air Base to Runway 06-24 in the Villamor Air Base. It also called for redevelopment of Naia 1 into a “greenbelt mixed residential area” between 2020 and 2025.

Better than Clark

Touting the advantages of its proposed airport, the ARRC report said “the adjacent areas and approaches to the ASIA are largely over water and would allow airport operation on a 24-hour basis.”

It said there is space available for the expansion of the airport for a third runway, which would not be possible anymore in the Clark International Airport at the Clark Freeport Zone, which now serves as a budget airline hub and has been widely touted as a possible main international airport for the country.

“The availability of space for the expansion of the airport for a third runway is possible while this will not be possible in the Clark International Airport anymore. This makes investment in the development of Sangley a long-term strategic outlook that is driven by logic and not politics … As Sangley becomes integrated into the Greater Metro Manila Area, this will enable the metropolis to retain its bragging rights of being the seat of the premier international airport and capital of the Philippines,” ARRC said.

Seaport project

Meanwhile, Phase 1 of the ASIS project calls for the reclamation of 50 ha offshore of the Atienza Air Base with a budget of around P8 billion, and the construction of a 200-million-liter capacity bulk liquid port, estimated to cost P10.8 billion.

“The development of the bulk liquid port is demand-driven, resulting from the proposed relocation of the existing 83-million-liter capacity of the Pandacan depot (in Manila), which supplies 70 percent of the shipping industry’s needs, 90 percent of lubricant requirements, 75 percent of all aviation fuel needs, and 25 percent of the demand for chemicals,” the ARRC explained.

Related infrastructures

The twin projects will also require the “development of the connecting road, rail and water transport infrastructures to enhance accessibility and sustain passenger and cargo traffic growth.”

The ARRC proposed the construction of the 17-kilometer Sangley-CavitEx to link the projects to the Naia complex; a 32.5-km Aguinaldo Light Rail Transit, using the alignment of the Sangley-CavitEX link to the Naia complex and Tramo to connect to the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Taft Station; and an 8-km, four-lane, snake-shaped cable-stayed bridge linking the twin projects to Boulevard 2000.

The bridge project alone is estimated to cost at least $2.3 billion, according to ARRC.

DOTC, PRA briefed

On March 19, ARRC executives briefed top DOTC and PRA officials on the “technical and economic justifications for the development of Sangley Point,” as well as the “global projects and consultancy services track records” of the firm’s foreign partners.

Those who attended the presentation included Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco; PRA General Manager Peter Anthony Abaya; and PRA Chairman Roberto Muldong, among others.

On April 5, the company wrote both the DOTC and PRA, committing to “complete the feasibility studies (of the two projects) within six to eight months from the issuance of a PRA board resolution approving the reservation of the right to reclaim in the designated areas (off Cavite City) and a DOTC comfort letter, acknowledging receipt of the unsolicited conceptual proposal of the ARRC.”

37 comments:

  1. The Terminal is Too Small for the airport

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    1. edi mag gawa ng mas malaki ... tanga!

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  2. This makes sense. I hope this will push through. It will be like kix and hkg airports.

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  3. I totally agree!

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  4. let's be positive to this. the airport lay out including the runway isn't final yet. don't be pessimistic naman. tsk tsk.. that may be your own opinion. kaya di tayo totally umaasenso kasi napakaraming taong mahilig magcriticize

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  5. I suggest japanese or koreans do this. if not, then magiging source of corruption na naman to. bigla nalang lulubog ang isla kasi substandard mga materials na ginagamit.

    Lets move forward Philippines!

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  6. Sana ma-approve ng DOTC..sana matauhan cla ma magbigay ng LONG-TERM solution sa problema at magiging problema sa airport at seaport natin..hindi ung babd-aid soluntions lng ang kanilang inisip..
    This is a great project at sana mag-push ito!

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  7. Give this project a chance..

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  8. This is a very brilliant idea, I hope our government will consider this.

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  9. If approved, it will be put on a swiss challenge, where a competing bidder is given the chance to match the offer. According to DOTC sources, the runway alignment should be almost parallel to Sangley.

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  10. To me it think its an awesome plan. An airport built on a water will be a tough construction. But it will all be worth it once its open to public. With this new airport, Philippines could handle more airplanes, reduce air traffic, and also welcoming people a whole different way with the new airport smell. One thing nice about this is that, when the airport need to expand, theirs always space around it to continue with the project. So I dont think this will be a major problem. Hope this plan continue. Will bring a brighter future for the Philippines tourism. A nice secondary plan for NAIA.

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  11. this plan will never materialize because i can not be funded by any party. further there are questionable people in the team who have questionable background and motives. nobody has airport experience!

    idea is good but its a 20 year project until this can get of the ground.........so forget it....we have to survive with what we have and make the best out of it.

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    1. be positive naman pre.. kaya wala tayong assenso dahil mas maraming critcs, walang akson... sa ibang basa ba walang corruption?

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  12. @655pm hey buddy. I think for us filipinos, we should always be optimistic. The said project was proposed by a company it only needs dotc and phil govt approval. Ive been to klia, changi, bkk, icn, hkg the said airhuds are superb and well planned we need this kind of project fornus to attract more tourist and investors.

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  13. This is a much more sound plan then the dual-Clark/NAIA system. Room for expansion and with the NextGEN ATM system coming, this will be a much better system. Improve ground transportation with rail/subway/bus, and make a system with in-city check-in similar to what they have in Korea's ICN - their "City Airport" check-in service and transport, you will have a much more efficient system. Yes it may take years, but in the end, it will be worth it. I just traveled, was in PH for 1 week and Korea for 5 days, the differences were night a day. PH needs this. This is an investment.

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  14. If you will notice, the proposed alignment can free up the height limit in the Makati area, the proposed Solar City and the old NAIA 1 so they can maximize their investment. DOTC should agree to this.

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  15. Too bad, ARRC did not do the research about the site before doing this proposal. Sorry pero it's not feasible, I know why it is not and I can back up my statement based on my research.

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  16. So why don't you explain, Rolan? Enlighten us.

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  17. Rolan. I hope when you wake up you will be blessed with optimism attitude.......

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  18. lol, asa pa cavite. clark is indisputably the next best airport. huwag ng ipilit yang sangley.

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  19. It is simply because the flight path of Sangley Point is oriented in the direction of a Prohibited Flying Area, namely RP-P1 MALACANANG (Official Residence of President of the Philippines). I am an architecture student and chosen this site before for my thesis. However, after doing certain studies, I found out the reason why should I choose another site. FYI, Reclamation is very costly and it also requires long construction period for land preparation which I think is very disadvantageous knowing that the Philippines is in immediate need to develop the next international gateway airport because NAIA is facing already capacity shortages. Reclamation also has negative environmental impacts.

    So what's the point to be optimistic when you already knew that this proposal is just a big dream and can't be achieve. The only reason for this proposal to succeed is to relocate the Malacañang which is impossible.

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    1. Yeah right , can you give more valid reasons with evidences ? Thank you

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  20. Thanks Rolan for the info. Appreciate it. O, ano ang masasabi ng mga "optimists" tungkol sa Prohibited Flying Area? Saan napunta ang pagiging positive? Tsk tsk.

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  21. PFA's can always be altered. With the recent approval of the upgrade of the PH's airspace navigation network to NextGEN status with an improved ATM, the rerouting and planning for arrivals can be better planned and executed. Also TFRs can be put in place at specific altitudes. I'm a pilot in U.S. and we follow these types of rules in VIP areas all the time and can always be altered and changed for specific areas. As for land Reclamation, I really do think this may not be as a problem as you describe if all the parties involved actually work together to make the ASIA project happen. I was at Clark and NAIA last week for leisure, and can readily say that the dual airport system they have been claiming will work, but will NOT be a long term solution - IMO. Clark's terminal is not big enough to be the "gateway" everyone is hoping it to be. It will suffice for a decade, but what happens after? Look at ICN. It was built on reclaimed land, with a similar runway and airside design with terminal placement. With more room to expand. Clark would be a great secondary gateway, but as a primary point. I can't agree. Philippines deserves a world-class airport to show to the world. So far ASIA is the best suited. Even with the idea that it will take time. TL;DR: Use NAIA/Clark dual while ASIA and NextGEN ATM is constructed.

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  22. Why still tagging the "Aquino"?
    Can't they just name it Manila International Airport? or Manila-Sangley International Airport?

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    1. Because there is a plan to integrate Sangley with NAIA airport in one mega project. The plan presented here is but one of the many proposals submitted to DOTC.

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  23. Sana matuloy to.kasi eto na ang pinaka magandang lugar para sa maayos na airpot accesible at malapit sa manila all out support tayo dito sa plano na to

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  24. I totally agree with the study of ARCC that sangley point would be a good site for a new airport because of its proximity to buseness centers of manila like the makati cbd ortigas and bgc, and that is with out going through a lot of right of way priblems in othr places. In sangley the goverment can upgrade aguinaldo highway going to the airport and maybe if this project really push trough uts better to invite on thebidding and awarding of the project all the aspuring president so as to prevent priblems like what we have now in naiat3 and make sure this aspiring president see all the legalities and technicalities of the projet. Make the bidding process of the project transparent to the public

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  25. Wow! that could end up having three airports serving Manila. The Government has quite a lot of money building airports huh?

    Why not just build a new airport with a single terminal that's flexible enough to be expanded in the future and close that old NAIA rather than integrating this one to NAIA.

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  26. Check this out! This project has been done by many countries decades ago...
    http://www.islandfederation.ru/en/world_experience.html

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  27. un s clark political lng ang dhilan, strategical location ng sangle dahil ang business hub ay nasa manila pa rin like makati, bonifacio global city with development of pagcor's entertainment city expect ninyo b n flight s clark then 3hours drive p bgo dumating s mga business hub ng bansa, kaya lng nman upgrade un s clark pansamantala habang ginagawa un project. asan b un nagcontribute nan malaking percent s electronic manufacturing binanggit p nga ni bnoy s SONA 2013(CALABARZON di b) kung matuloy ito mas madaling mailalabas at pasok un product bakit lrt 1 extension,cavite laguna expressway, daang hari etc tignan ninyo un s dpwh at mga ppp project essay access ang sangle. 24hours operation na di kaya nan clark, bukod p s expansion capability. economic strategy move ito ky nga un mga kababayan ng mga taga pampanga pa nga ang nag uutos na si ate glo s PRA eh instead s lugar niya. mas beneficial ito s nakakarami, huwag lng makikisali ang iglesia malaman s bulacan mapunta, andun n ang philippine arena at philippine stadium. kapag napunta nga bulacan hindi talaga relihiyon ang iglesia kundi isang malaking CORPORATION, u ns CUSTOM magresign kn k2pag ng mukha.kl ko separate ang estate.

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  28. Mga OA kasi ang mga nagsasabing babahain ang Maynila dahil sa Sangley Airport. Ano yun, patataasin agad ng land reclamation ang lebel ng tubig ng Manila Bay? Tayo ba lang ang may anyong tubig? Ay kung sa lawa, doon mangyayari ang sitwasyon na iniisip ng mga OA. Syempre, kakalat ang tubig sa ibang lugar.

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    1. Hindi din naman natin masasabi ang kapahamakan. Yung sa Cavitex nga , diba binabaha ang mga malapit doon. Kung sakaling irerelocate ang mga nakatira doon saan ? OVERPOPULATION NA PO TAYO !

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  29. ok thanks.Improve ground transportation with rail/subway/bus, and make a system with in-city check-in similar to what they have in Korea's ICN - their "City Airport" check-in service and transport, you will have a much more efficient system. Yes it may take years, but in the end, it will be worth it. Cheap Gatwick Meet and Greet

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  30. Sangley Point is a very ideal place to build the new International Airport in the Philippines, away from populated areas and can be expanded to multiple runways. Extend the contruction of coastal highway 15 minutes you are in Manila/Makati.

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  31. Once Binay Becomes President and Gringo Honasan Becomes vice-President w/c in turn begin the construction of this new state-of-the art replacement for NAIA,they will rename this new airport as "Danilo Atienza International airport" in Honor Of The Fallen PAF F-5 Pilot and the hero Of the 1989 Coup.

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