“Thinking long-term is the way to go,” he said, but added that should the DOTC be required to “trim down” the design, “we will be ready with a feasibility study, we are ready for both alternatives.” The design, finished in November last year, was initially for a terminal that would cost less at P7.5 billion.
Abaya said, however, that once approved, the terminal would probably be finished in 2018, beyond the term of Pres. Aquino.
“We are not putting up a waiting shed here. There are huge infrastructure and the size would really take time,” he said, expressing hope that NEDA would approve the project by the end of the year.
This, even as Abaya also said that the government is “working with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) for a new gateway at Sangley”, referring the coastal Sangley Point, a former US military facility in Cavite.
“I don’t know when reclamation could be started,” he said, again noting that the project is not expected to be launched within the Aquino administration.
“I hope they (in the next administration) pick it up once they assume office,” he added.
Abaya stressed that there should be no conflict between Clark, NAIA and a new gateway at Sangley which he referred to as a “new NAIA.”
He also said “we are not sure if we will close NAIA if Sangley becomes operational. There are two schools of thought here.”
At the same time, the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has proposed five measures to boost the airport here. The measures include the issuance of a “government policy direction” for the development of the Clark airport, a charter for the airport, incentives for airlines to fly to Clark including the granting of fifth and sixth freedom traffic rights, incentives for Filipino travellers to fly via Clark including a three-year moratorium on travel tax, and inclusion of CIAC in the Philippine Negotiating Panel in international airlines meetings.
