Cavite: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has taken significant steps to expedite the development of the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) Project in Cavite by creating a joint technical working group (JTWG). According to Philippines News Agency, the Presidential Communications Office announced that under Administrative Order (AO) 44, the JTWG will be led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). The group's membership includes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the provincial government of Cavite.
Signed on June 3, AO 44 mandates the JTWG to tackle issues potentially delaying the SPIA Project and ensure that reclamation activities comply with existing environmental and technical laws, rules, and regulations. The working group is tasked with submitting quarterly progress reports to the Office of the Executive Secretary, detailing project milestones, compliance measures, encountered issues, and recommendations for presidential intervention.
The JTWG has the authority to propose policy directives to the President to maintain the project's timeline and alignment with national development priorities. The order highlights the necessity of enhanced coordination among various government agencies, local government units in Cavite, and private sector partners, alongside streamlined regulatory and administrative processes, to guarantee the timely completion of the SPIA.
The DOTr will guide policy direction on air transport and civil aviation, coordinating government actions for the airport's development to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and convenient air travel. It will also oversee the SPIA's integration into the Greater Capital Region Airport System and the national air transport network.
The CAAP will provide technical and regulatory oversight of the airport's planning, design, development, and operational readiness, including issuing required certifications and authorizations. The PRA will manage the project's reclamation component, including the review and approval of reclamation plans and enforcement of technical standards and compliance requirements. It will also evaluate applicable fees and charges for the project's non-saleable reclamation component.
AO 44 demands strict compliance with the Environmental Impact Statement System, Environmental Compliance Certificate, Letters of No Objection, Area Clearance conditions, and other applicable laws and regulations, with environmental monitoring mechanisms established by the DENR and PRA to protect marine and coastal ecosystems impacted by reclamation and construction activities.
This administrative order becomes effective immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. The SPIA is envisioned as a flagship local public-private partnership project aimed at becoming an international logistics hub with a container port and airport complex. In 2023, the Cavite government entered into a Joint Venture and Development Agreement with the SPIA Development Consortium to implement the project.
