Think tank group Infrawatch PH yesterday urged the Senate to review the $10-billion Sangley International Airport project to determine if this has a conflict with the national agencies undertaking the “Build, Build, Build” program.
Terry Ridon, InfraWatch PH convenor and former Kabataan party-list representative who had been a House transportation committee member, said a review is called for especially with President Duterte’s recent pronouncement that he is committed to ban reclamation projects in the Manila Bay area except those connected with government projects until the end of his term.
“While the effort of the Cavite provincial government to spur economic growth should be lauded, there are some questions on whether provincial governments can undertake airport development projects as these initiatives are done by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines,” Ridon said in a statement.
“We have no question that local governments can undertake reclamation activities, but we are uncertain whether they can undertake airport development activities, most especially of this magnitude,” Ridon added.
Last month, the Cavite provincial government issued a notice of award to the sole bidder, MacroAsia and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. The contract is targeted to be signed this quarter and the groundbreaking is set in the second quarter this year.
InfraWatch also asked whether there is coordination with transport agencies to ensure the success of the project.
Rdon said: “It is the DOTr that has jurisdiction and control over the country’s airports. It therefore begs the question: Is there already an existing contract between the Cavite provincial government and the DOTr on how the Sangley airport will be developed under the provincial PPP (public-private partnership) arrangement?”
He pointed out the Department of Defense also has jurisdiction over Sangley airbase, thus the need for a contractual arrangement with the agency to ensure coordination over the development.
Likewise, Ridon said it must be determined whether or not Cavite’s PPP conflicts with the DOTr’s direction to use Sangley as the hub for general aviation and low-cost carriers.
Last February 15, the President said only government projects will be allowed to undertake reclamation at the Manila Bay area, speaking at the inauguration of the DOTr’s Sangley Airport Development project turning the Danilo Atienza Airbase into a general aviation and low-cost carrier terminal.
Ridon said: “In the last few months, the DOTr has made much about the speed of construction of the rehabilitated Sangley airport. In fact, local carriers had been invited to transfer some of their flights to Sangley. As such, what will happen with these initiatives in the event that the Cavite PPP proposal is concluded and awarded to the sole bidder?”
These questions need to be addressed by the Senate as any conflict with national government initiatives on Sangley may mean billions of pesos of taxpayers’ money going down the drain, he added.
The Cavite government plans to transform the former US naval base into a world class air hub serving more than 100 passengers a year. It aims to replace the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
