ARRC awaits gov’t decision on rehab of Danilo Atienza airport

By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) Updated February 27, 2017 – 12:00am http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/02/27/1676109/arrc-awaits-govt-decision-rehab-danilo-atienza-airport MANILA, Philippines –  All-Asia Resources Reclamation Corp. (ARRC) is hopeful the government could decide soon on the consortium’s plan to rehabilitate the Danilo Atienza airport to serve private jets and smaller low-cost carriers, as well as to develop an international gateway airport in Sangley in Cavite. “We have long been ready with our foreign partners to do both. Hopefully the government decides soon enough even for the Danilo Atienza project only because it will make NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) more efficient,” ARRC vice chairman Edmundo Lim said in a statement. The group, composed of the Tieng family and SM Group’s Belle Corp, intends to rehabilitate the present Danilo Atienza airport in Sangley and use it as a third runway to cater to private jets and smaller low-cost carriers. “We have submitted an unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate Danilo Atienza and finish it in one year. If the government accepts this, we can absorb all general aviation from NAIA and some low-cost carriers, so NAIA can handle more commercial flights,” Lim said. The Danilo Atienza airport’s runway is expected to complement the initial two runways under ARRC’s plan to build the Sangley integrated complex. ARRC’s plan to develop the Sangley integrated complex involves building an international airport, seaport, as well as mixed-use development on reclaimed land. Lim said both projects could be undertaken without government having to spend a single centavo. The group could finish the new Sangley airport project within five years, upon government’s issuance of the notice to proceed. Through the Sangley integrated complex, ARRC wants to help ease congestion in Metro Manila. As the Sangley integrated complex would have other components, ARRC said the project would also help position the country as a manufacturing and export hub in Asia. “This would make it convenient for manufacturers to bring in their raw materials and ship out their finished products because the seaport and airport are just next door,” Lim said.