Sangley proponents given more time to submit requirements

MANILA, Philippines — The consortium of Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd. (CCCC) have been given a two-month extension by the provincial government of Cavite to complete and submit the post qualification requirements for the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) project.

Cavite government public-private partnership selection committee legal officer Jesse Grepo told The STAR that the provincial government of Cavite has approved the consortium’s request for extension due to the outbreak.

“The consortium has been given 60 days or until June 11 within which to submit their post qualification documents,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the consortium is encouraged to submit the same as early as, and to the maximum extent, possible given the circumstances, as undertaken in their letter request,” Grepo said.

The consortium, which received the notice of award from the Cavite government last Feb. 15, was earlier given 60 days to comply with all post qualification requirements before an official signing of a joint venture contract with the local government is made.

However, travel restrictions and lockdowns imposed in China and later on in the country posed challenges to the consortium in meeting and completing its post qualification requirements.

The consortium has been awarded by the provincial government of Cavite the $4-billion first phase of the SPIA, a project involving the development of an interim first runway with an annual design capacity for 25 million passengers and the new Sangley connector road and bridge.

MacroAsia has a 40 percent stake in the consortium, while CCCC holds the remaining 60 percent.

MacroAsia earlier said it is looking to bring in other members of the Lucio Tan empire onboard the airport project to provide additional financial muscle.