The onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses inundated several towns in the province of Bulacan, including the municipality of Bulakan where the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) will be constructed. Environmental advocates fear that the impending construction of the NMIA will worsen the flooding and increase the area’s vulnerability to other geohazards, endangering the sustainability of the fisheries.Â
San Miguel Aerocity Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMC), is gearing up for the start of the construction of the NMIA this 2021. On December 20, 2020, San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI) was officially granted a 50-year franchise through Republic Act 11506. It gives SMAI the eligibility to construct, develop, establish, operate, and maintain the planned P736-billion domestic and international airport, as well as its adjacent airport city.Â
The law also provides for tax exemptions in the construction, development, establishment, and operation of the airport during the 10-year construction period. Until such time they have recovered the project’s investment cost, the SMAI will also be exempt from tax collection. Thereafter, the revenue-sharing with the government shall begin, providing the national government as much as 88 percent of the total airport earnings.Â
Major rail and road network projects will be incorporated into the NMIA and its adjacent Airport City. The development plan of the airport includes a proposed eight-kilometer airport toll road connecting the airport to the North Luzon Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway, 12 road expressway projects, and five railway transport modes, according to the aerotropolis's master plan obtained from AGHAM.