Cavite gov cites need for new airport in push for Sangley deal
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 1) — Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said he will explore the next steps in the Sangley airport project after President Rodrigo Duterte said it will push through despite issues with its Chinese contractor.
"I believe that for progress and development, the Philippines deserves a new airport," Remulla said in a statement on Tuesday.
"I want it to happen but without contradicting national policy," he told CNN Philippines when pressed further.
Last week, the ₱500-billion contract was in danger of being revoked after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. said he will recommend ending contracts with Chinese firms found to be behind incursions in the South China Sea, similar to sanctions imposed by the United States.
Washington's ban covers subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company, which includes China Airport Construction Corporation, the partner firm of billionaire Lucio Tan's MacroAsia Corporation. Tan also owns flag carrier Philippine Airlines.
"I have met with the CACC officials and I believe in their sincere desire to invest and construct a world-class premiere gateway to our beloved country," Remulla said. "I believe that we should not get caught up in the middle of a superpower tug-of-war between the United States and China."
On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Sangley airport and all other infrastructure projects with Chinese developers will proceed, saying Duterte will not follow the actions taken by the US.
"Malinaw po ang sinabi ni Presidente, hindi po siya susunod sa direktiba ng mga Amerikano dahil tayo po ay malaya at independiyenteng bansa at kinakailangan po natin ang mga namumuhunan galing po sa bansang Tsina [The President said it clearly: he will not follow America's directive since we are a free and independent country and we need the investments coming from China]," Roque said in a press briefing.
The Sangley airport project is a rare public-private partnership deal initiated by a local government, as most deals for big-ticket construction projects are executed by national government agencies.
MacroAsia said it is completing qualification documents for the award but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Remulla said separately that the provincial government has not yet signed the "final binding agreement" for the project, adding that he now needs to discuss with board members their next steps.
Prior to Malacañang's pronouncements, both Remulla and MacroAsia said they are leaving the decision whether or not to terminate the contract to the national government.
"I have met with the CACC officials and I believe in their sincere desire to invest and construct a world-class premiere gateway to our beloved country," Remulla added. "I believe that we should not get caught up in the middle of a superpower tug-of-war between the United States and China."
CCCC, a state-owned construction firm in China, was blacklisted by the World Bank from 2011 to 2017 for engaging in "fraudulent practices" in building the Philippines National Roads Improvement and Management Project. The company built the Macau International Airport on reclaimed land and expanded Hong Kong’s new airport, according to its website.
Duterte first floated the use of Sangley Point in June 2019 as an alternative gateway for the greater Manila area, amid growing frustration over congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The port is also known as the Danilo Atienza Air Base in Cavite City and is a 15-minute ferry ride from the CCP Bay Terminal in Manila.
