PAL 100% sure of building $6-B int'l airport

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) chef executive Ramon Ang revealed Thursday night that the flag carrier is certain of pushing through with the $6 billion development of an international airport to house its planes.

"One hundred percent tuloy 'yung airport development, timing lang," Ang said.

There were reports that the airlines have shelved the project after PAL failed to present it to President Benigno Aquino III last February. The project would help decongest the already crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

This time, however, Ang is confident that Aquino himself expressed support for the mammoth development but is only hindered by bureaucrats and critics.

"Suportado naman 'yan ng Presidente. Siyempre, may mga little indians diyan na maraming sinasabi kaya ayaw na natin silang kulitin muna," the tycoon, who also heads food manufacturing firm San Miguel Corporation, said.

Ang has been proposing the 2,000-hectare development to build four runways since August in 2012. He also said in previous reports that PAL will buy 54 new Airbus planes working toward acquiring 100 planes, several of which will be long-range crafts.

According to a report by Malaysian banking firm CIMB Group, the airline company is eyeing Bulacan as a possible location for the new airport.