San Miguel: MIA initial works to start in Q1 2021

Q1 in 2021. This is the date that San Miguel Corporation has envisioned to start the Bulacan Airport. Will this push through given some protest on writ of kalikasan? REBPH will follow its development.

Initial works on the P740-billion Manila International Airport (MIA) project in Bulakan town, Bulacan province, would start in the first quarter of 2021, San Miguel Corp. said on Tuesday after selecting a Dutch dredging company to handle it.

In a statement, the diversified conglomerate said the works involved restoring the land where the planned air hub would be built, the $1.73-billion contract for which was bagged by Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. through wholly owned subsidiary Boskalis Philippines Inc.

“Our selection of a global giant in dredging shows how ready, willing and committed we are to do everything necessary to make sure this airport project is developed properly and sustainably,” Ramon Ang, San Miguel Corporation president and chief operating officer, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Boskalis has committed to ensure that the area will be suitable for development. It will be designed with the highest technical and environmental standards, so it can withstand potential large earthquakes, local typhoon conditions, and even future sea level rise,” he added.

With his company’s selection of Boskalis, Ang said the preparatory works were expected to be completed by 2024.

In a separate statement, Boskalis Chief Executive Officer Peter Berdowski said his company was looking “forward to applying [its knowledge] for the land development of the MIA project.”

“During the construction phase, we will contribute to the local economy and the new airport will bring further growth to the whole Manila region,” he added.

Boskalis’ work plan and methodology include measures to prevent soil liquefaction in the entire area.

The statements come after San Miguel and the Department of Transportation signed in September the concession agreement for the airport project after no other group challenged the former’s unsolicited offer, which was promoted as a “game-changer” for the country’s economy.

It was expected to help make the country a more viable and competitive tourist and investment destination in the region, as well as create more than a million jobs.

Once completed, the MIA would accommodate up to 100 million passengers annually, and have four runways, eight taxiways and three passenger terminals.

San Miguel shares fell by 1.08 percent or P1.50 to close at P137.70 each on Tuesday.

Article and Photo originally posted by Manila Times last December 16, 2020 and written by Lisbet K. Esmael. Minor edits have been made by REBPH to cater to its own readers.