The new international airport in Bulacan, which is dubbed as the ‘biggest airport in the world, is expected to open in 2022 if the construction will begin this year.
Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso said that the first phase of the construction, which includes the construction of two runways that would cater to 35 million passengers, could begin as early as this year, reported Philstar.
Reinoso said that the construction of the airport will come in phases as per the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s rule on projects having “partial operability”.
“So we want to do it in phases, so that once a phase is completed, we want it operational immediately. We will not anymore wait for the entire facility to be completed to operate it. Because once you wait for that, then it may take a while before it becomes operational. For us, as soon there is a terminal and a runway already, then you should start operations immediately,” Reinoso said.
Reinoso added that the airport is crucial as the Bulacan airport is seen as one of the possible alternatives to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to decongest the country’s main gateway.
In Ramon Ang’s speech during Far Eastern University’s 90th General Commencement Exercises, where he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Business Engineering Honoris Causa, he revealed that Bulacan Airport is set to become one of the biggest airports not only in Asia but in the world.
The Bulacan airport will be named New Manila International Airport.
The business tycoon underscored that the airport will help boost the country’s employment and tourism.
Over 1 million direct and indirect jobs will be available for overseas Filipino workers and locals during its construction phase.
RELATED ARTICLE: Ramon Ang: Bulacan airport construction to generate 1 million jobs for OFWs, locals
SMC submitted a proposal to build, operate, and maintain an airport in Bulacan. The 1,168-hectare airport can accommodate over 200 million passengers annually, more than triple than Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) capacity.
A city complex will also be built at a 2,500-hectare area along Manila Bay in Bulacan, Bulacan.
