MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has created a joint technical working group (JTWG) to fast-track the development and completion of the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) Project in Cavite.
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said Thursday that under Administrative Order (AO) 44, the JTWG will be co-chaired by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). Its members include 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 directs the JTWG to address issues that could delay the SPIA Project and ensure that reclamation activities comply with environmental and technical requirements under existing laws, rules, and regulations.
The group will submit quarterly progress reports to the Office of the Executive Secretary, covering project milestones, compliance measures, issues encountered, and recommendations for presidential action.
It may also recommend policy directives to the President to keep the project on schedule and aligned with national development priorities.
“There is a need to enhance coordination of various government agencies, local government units (LGUs) in the province of Cavite, and private sector partners, and streamline regulatory and administrative processes, in order to ensure the timely completion of the SPIA,” AO 44 stated.
“The JTWG, in coordination with other concerned government agencies, is hereby directed to take all necessary actions to ensure that the Sangley Point land is available for the development and implementation of the SPIA,” it added.
The DOTr will provide overall policy direction on air transport and civil aviation and coordinate government actions for the airport’s development to support safe, reliable, efficient, and convenient air travel.
It will also oversee the integration of the SPIA into the Greater Capital Region Airport System and the country’s air transport network.
CAAP will provide technical and regulatory oversight of the airport’s planning, design, development, and operational readiness, including the issuance of required certifications and authorizations.
The PRA, meanwhile, will oversee the project’s reclamation component, including the review and approval of reclamation plans and enforcement of technical standards and compliance requirements.
It will also review applicable fees and charges for the project’s non-saleable reclamation component.
AO 44 requires strict compliance with the Environmental Impact Statement System, Environmental Compliance Certificate, conditions under Letters of No Objection and Area Clearance, and other applicable laws and regulations.
“Environmental monitoring mechanisms shall be established by the DENR and PRA to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems affected by reclamation and construction activities,” the order read.
The AO takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
The SPIA is a flagship local public-private partnership project envisioned as 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. (PNA)
