By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Sept. 30 (PNA) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on Tuesday maintained it is still pushing efforts to turn Sangley Point in Cavite into a general aviation services hub for Metro Manila.
“We’re still pushing that it (Sangley) becomes a general aviation hub,” said DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya at the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) 2014.
To recall, the proposal came from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who noted that the airport could serve as NAIA’s “third runway” until greater expansion can be made in the long-term.
JICA further said that upgrading Sangley’s existing airport may be done faster and at a lower cost, since initial reclamation will be needed for only one to two runways, instead of three to four.
Abaya previously said that this will significantly bring down JICA’s initial ballpark estimate of US$ 10 billion to build a four-runway airport in Sangley.
At present, DOTC and JICA are exploring options for the preparation of a feasibility study on this roadmap, which comes after the Japanese agency identified eight potential sites in 2011 and then rated their suitability.
The eight sites originally considered were: Angat-Pandi-Bustos; Obando; North Manila Bay; Central Manila Bay; Sangley Point; San Nicholas Shoals; West Laguna Lake; and Rizal-Talim Island.
Abaya said the agency still awaits a feasibility study (FS) from the JICA.
“We’re still waiting for the FS of JICA,” he said, noting it will take about six to eight months or early second quarter of next year if not the middle of next year.
This plan is part of the DOTC’s efforts to turn provincial airports into international airports to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.(PNA)