MANILA, Philippines – Alliance Global Group Incorporated, the listed holding firm of tycoon Andrew Tan, is planning to build an integrated transport system near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in two years’ time at no cost to the government.
Alliance Global executive director Kevin Tan said his firm is in talks with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for a transport hub below its 220-meter air-conditioned elevated bridge called Runway Manila.
Runway Manila connects NAIA Terminal 3 with Newport City in Pasay City, standing 17.8 meters above Andrews Avenue. It was funded by Alliance Global unit Travellers International Hotel Group Incorporated, which operates Newport City. (READ: NAIA-Newport air-conditioned walkway by 2017)
Tan said Alliance Global is “still finalizing the cost” of the transport hub.
“We are working with the government to be able to provide some solutions to some of the transport concerns that we have there, so a transport terminal would be built on the end of Runway Manila,” Tan told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2017 Prosperity Summit in Pasay City.
This could mean increased foot traffic to Travellers International’s Newport City.
“Right now, the plan is just [near] NAIA because of our presence right across it,” Tan said, adding that Alliance Global is “always looking at other opportunities as well in airports, in other areas that need construction.”
Tan, who is the oldest son of billionaire Andrew Tan, said Alliance Global plans to start construction by end-2017 and expects to start operations in 2019.
“That was always the vision of Runway Manila. Not only connect it to the integrated resort, but also to provide some transport solutions for the riding public so what we are doing now is we are basically studying this with the government and with the airport authorities to see how we can help them with some of their concerns,” Tan said.
Setting sights on New Nayong Pilipino
Meanwhile, Tan said his company will study the P1.47-billion ($32.75-million) public-private partnership (PPP) deal to build, design, operate, and maintain a cultural theme park in a 9.5-hectare lot at Entertainment City in Parañaque City.
“We have not heard much about that, but if there is an opportunity we would be interested to take a look at it,” Tan replied when asked if his company will bid for the New Nayong Pilipino PPP project.
The cultural theme park PPP project is “envisioned to be the top-of-mind destination for foreign and local tourists who want to experience our culture,” he said.
The PPP Center targets bid submission for December of this year, with construction completion set for October 2021.
Other interested firms include Megaworld Corporation, Okada Manila, Robinsons Land Corporation, SM Prime Holdings Incorporated, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Ayala Land Incorporated, DM Consunji Incorporated, DM Wenceslao and Associates Incorporated, and Filinvest Development Corporation. – Rappler.com
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