DOTr Press Statement on the Proposal to Develop Sangley Airport

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DOTr PRESS STATEMENT

13 August 2018

On the proposal to develop Sangley Airport

This pertains to some news reports stating that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is rejecting the proposal of the Cavite LGU to develop the Sangley Airport.

First, the DOTr would like to clarify that it does not have any objection on the proposal of the Provincial Government of Cavite (PGC) to develop the Sangley Airport. 

The Memorandum dated 15 June 2018, which was cited in several news reports, merely involved a legal review of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement ( MOA) between the DOTr, Civil Aviation Authority of the Phils. (CAAP) and the PGC. 

The Memorandum was not a review on the feasibility or legality of the proposed Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) Project.

Thus, the recommendations were essentially to refine the provisions of the MOA, such as defining the description or scope of the project, identifying the source of funds or financing scheme, and even demonstrating the technical capability of PGC. Nowhere did it say that the SPIA Project was illegal or unsuitable.

In sum, the Memorandum did not decide on the SPIA Project itself, but rather on the documentation that would have paved the way for possible collaboration between the agencies concerned. The SPIA Project vis-a-vis the project documentation are clearly distinct, separate and independent from each other.

Lastly, the DOTr would like to stress that the approval process of the Cavite LGU proposal will be defined once the legal basis/framework for its implementation is determined. 

Should the Cavite LGU decide to implement the project under Republic Act (RA) No. 6957 as amended by RA 7718, otherwise known as the BOT Law, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), it will have to secure the approval from the NEDA Investments Coordination Committee (ICC) and, subsequently, from the NEDA Board as required by law. Thus, as the implementing agency for the project, the Cavite LGU needs to submit to the NEDA ICC the requisite documents for review/processing. On the other hand, should the Cavite LGU decide to implement the project under the Local Government Code, they have to comply likewise with its requirements.