San Miguel president Ramon S. Ang– INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
As many as 1 million direct and indirect jobs will be created within the six-year construction period of what is dubbed as the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan once the government approves it, the head of the conglomerate behind the project said on Monday.
In an emailed statement, San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang said the undertaking, which aims to replace the 70-year-old Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), would also be boon for the country’s large community of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), “many of whom have the expertise needed” for the building of the $15-billion, four-runway “aerotropolis.”
Best workers
“Once the airport project is given the green-light to proceed with construction, we will tap our best workers from here and overseas,” he said.
San Miguel, the country’s largest conglomerate, has been pushing for the construction of a new aviation complex to accommodate the growing air travel needs of Filipinos since 2010.
Its latest proposal calls for a massive airport complex on a 2,500-hectare property in Bulacan, 27 kilometers north of Naia.
Approved last April
The proposal also calls for the new airport to be made accessible from any point in Metro Manila via multiple expressways in 45 minutes or less.
The plan was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority last April.
The airport will have up to four parallel runways, upgradeable to six; modern terminals, cargo and ancillary facilities, and an adjacent industrial complex and its seaport facilities on the edge of Manila Bay.
“It’s a massive undertaking. We will need Filipino talents in engineering, construction, hospitality and airport-related services,” Ang said.
“Hopefully, this will give many of our OFW countrymen a reason to come home, be with their families and at the same time help in building a better future for our nation,” he added.
Ang said the airport would be designed with the comfort and convenience of expatriate Filipino workers in mind.
“We will make sure that our OFWs will be very comfortable in the new airport,” the San Miguel chief said.