SMC Eyes Early Runway Delivery at New Manila Airport

The ₱735-billion New Manila International Airport could be completed before its 2028 target. The logistics centre, originally scheduled for completion in 2025, is now expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. Once complete, the airport is expected to function as a primary alternative to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. San Miguel Corp. says the first runway of the ₱735-billion New Manila International Airport could be completed before its 2028 target, with delivery possible by the second quarter of 2028. Supply shortages of fill sand linked to competing Manila Bay reclamation projects have delayed parts of the development, particularly the logistics centre. The 2,500-hectare Bulacan airport is planned to handle 35 million passengers annually in its initial phase, expanding to 100 million passengers upon full completion. San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has indicated that the first runway of its ₱735-billion New Manila International Airport project could be delivered ahead of schedule, with completion now potentially edging forward from the 2028 target despite ongoing construction and materials constraints. Ramon S. Ang, chairman and chief executive of San Miguel Corporation, told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting that progress on the Bulacan aviation megaproject remains broadly on track, with key elements advancing at different speeds across the programme. “We are on track to finish the first runway for 2028. In fact, it can even be earlier,” Ang said, adding that operational readiness could arrive as soon as the second quarter of 2028. He noted, however, that ancillary infrastructure would take longer to complete, particularly the passenger terminal and logistics hub. The logistics centre, originally scheduled for completion in 2025, is now expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. Ang attributed the delay to large-scale earthworks requirements, including the need for around seven million cubic metres of fill material, alongside a tightening supply of sand linked to competing reclamation activity in Manila Bay. While acknowledging bottlenecks in construction inputs, he stressed that runway delivery remains insulated from longer-term disruption risks and continues to track towards the 2028 operational window. The New Manila International Airport is positioned as a flagship infrastructure development for the Philippines’ aviation sector, spanning roughly 2,500 hectares in Bulakan, Bulacan. Designed to initially accommodate 35 million passengers annually, the facility is intended to scale up to 100 million passengers per year once fully developed. Phase one of the scheme includes two of four planned parallel runways, enabling simultaneous aircraft operations and accommodation of larger wide-body aircraft. A major passenger terminal is also part of the initial build-out, with specifications targeting a high-capacity, technology-led passenger experience. Once complete, the airport is expected to function as a primary alternative to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, relieving congestion in Metro Manila while supporting demand growth across the wider Greater Manila Area. The development is also positioned to serve surrounding economic corridors, including Central Luzon and CALABARZON.