Boskalis bags $1.73 billion contract for Bulacan airport

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has awarded global dredging contractor Boskalis a $1.73-billion contract for its Bulacan airport project, which is now slated to commence construction early next year.

In a statement yesterday, SMC said the P740-billion Manila International Airport project in Bulacan is set to take off in the first quarter of 2021, with Boskalis tapped to restore land at what will be the largest and most modern international gateway in the country.

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., through wholly owned subsidiary Boskalis Philippines Inc., was chosen to undertake land development works for the airport project following a selection process that included the world’s biggest dredging companies.

“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. We will make sure it will serve and benefit Filipinos, our host province Bulacan, and the rest of the Philippines, for many generations to come,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

“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 said.

With the selection of Boskalis, Ang said preparatory works on land development at the airport site is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2021 and is expected to be fully completed by 2024.

SMC was previously targeting to break ground on the airport project this month.

The airport project was supposed to break ground in December last year, but was postponed due to clarifications raised by the Department of Finance.

Boskalis is a global dredging contractor known for major projects worldwide such as the ongoing development of Singapore’s Tuas Terminal Phase 2 port.

The company is involved in the development of the Songdo International City in South Korea, in the development of the Punta Pacifica Islands in Panama, the development of five islands in Makassar in Indonesia, and the ongoing development of the Ijburg residential area in Amsterdam.

“The confirmation of this project of this scale is fantastic news. As Boskalis, we have a rich tradition in creating land all over the world to the highest technical and environmental standards,” Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski said.

Article and Photo originally posted by Philippine Star last December 16, 2020 12:00am and written by Richmond Mercurio. Minor edits have been made by REBPH to cater to its own readers.