MANILA -- San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang on Friday expressed optimism the completion of the envisioned PHP735.6-billion international airport in Bulacan province could boost foreign tourist arrivals in the country that would be at par with those of Southeast Asian neighbors.
“The limitation of foreign tourist arrivals to the country is because of congested airport. Now if we a good airport, Philippines will have good image and also Philippines will be able to bring in foreign tourists comparable to our regional countries,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Asian Development Bank (ADB) annual meeting here.
Ang said he hoped the airport could bring in at least 20 million foreign tourists to the country, at par with that particularly of Malaysia.
“And we are a bigger country, bigger population. If we bring in 20 million foreign tourists to our country because of this airport, it will create at least two or three jobs per foreign tourist arrival and that would be very good for our country,” he added.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on April 25 approved the unsolicited proposal of diversified conglomerate SMC to build, operate, and maintain an international airport with an area of about 2,500 hectares in Bulakan, Bulacan.
The project involves airport development and an 8.4-kilometer airport toll road, and will be able to accomodate 100 million passengers per annum by its opening year.
“If you look at our balance sheet and our cash flow, we can easily do that airport alone,” added Ang.
SMC’s airport project is still subject to Swiss challenge under government rules, wherein other companies will be invited to submit comparative proposals. (PNA)
