Revilla pushes airport development in Sangley Point

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. wants the Philippine naval bases stationed in Sangley Point in Cavite City to be transferred and consolidated to the other Philippine Navy camp in the coastal town of Ternate to pave way for the development of an international airport and seaport at the former United States Naval Station.

Revilla, chairman of the Senate committee on public works, said the redevelopment plan of Sangley Point will also help decongest the main airports in Pasay City.

“[The Naval] base can be transferred to Ternate,” Revilla said in an interview.

Revilla is supportive of the plans by a local consortium to develop an international airport and seaport on the reclaimed land in Cavite City.

The consortium will be lead by the group of William Tieng, chairman of the Solar Group and the lead partner of the All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp (ARRC) consortium.

Reports said that the plan covers a reclamation of 2,500 hectares on the flight line of the Atienza Air Base. The development of a 50-million-a-year passenger terminal is demand-driven based on the current 31-million annual passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Revilla reiterated his call to the Aquino administration to act on the re-development plans for Sangley Point.

“This will be a big factor for Cavite… there is still a portion composed of about 100 to 200 hectares which can be developed for the international airport and seaport (at Sangley)," Revilla said.

Revilla is optimistic that the plan will push through in a bid to decongest the operations of the NAIA.

“Malacañang should consider this,” the senator said.

A former Cavite governor, Revilla said the plan has been hatched since 2001 but it was shelved apparently due to lack of support from the government and the private sector.