San Miguel to prioritize hiring of local residents, OFWs for construction of Bulacan airport project

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said Wednesday it will prioritize hiring local residents and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the construction of its proposed P735-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulakan, Bulacan.

In a statement, SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the company is set to start training local residents as part of its job creation program for the soon-to-be-built NMIA.

Ang noted that being prioritized for initial hiring are local residents of the province, particularly relocatees from Barangay Taliptip, where the airport will be built.

The former residents, 60 in all, are set to start their training under the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which designed courses on skills specific to the needs of the airport’s construction, according to the SMC chief.

“We designed these skills training programs with TESDA specifically to equip Bulakenos with the necessary skills needed to either work at the airport project, put up small businesses to support airport workers, or even start on their own elsewhere if they choose to do so,” Ang said.

The first batch of 60 residents are set to receive training in courses such as shielded metal arc welding, electrical installation and maintenance, and heavy equipment operations.

Meanwhile, courses such as dressmaking and cookery are also on offer for residents that want to be self-employed.

Aside from local residents, Ang said SMC will also open employment opportunities to OFWs who have been returning in droves to the country recently due to the uncertain global economic conditions.

“A lot of overseas Filipino workers had to return to the country in recent months after they lost their jobs. Many are not sure if they will be getting new contracts from their foreign employers given the difficult economic conditions. With this world-class airport project, those who will opt to stay home will no longer be separated from families and will have a viable option,” he said.

“We have so many talented and experienced Filipino skilled workers and engineers and they can really be an asset to this project. It’s a project they can be proud of, and tell their grandchildren about,” he added.

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in an economic downturn, Ang said that the company is even more determined to push through with large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the airport, to boost the economy and provide employment to many Filipinos who have been rendered jobless.

“Construction activities will have an immediate economic impact on so many sectors. These create much-needed jobs that put money in people’s hands and allow them and their families to spend for their needs,” he said.

“This spending benefits many small and medium businesses, local eateries, sari-sari stores, groceries, and service establishments,” he added.

The SMC chief said the construction of the NMIA will generate “hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”

Ang said that while SMC will prioritize the hiring of local residents of Bulacan, the airport project will ultimately open opportunities for those coming from Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and even Southern Luzon.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved on second reading the measure seeking to grant San Miguel Aerocity Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Holdings Corp., a franchise for the construction of NMIA.

The franchise to be granted to San Miguel Aerocity Inc. is valid for 50 years, and requires it to construct the airport within one year from the effectivity of the Act, complete its construction for 10 years, and commence operations within one year from the approval of the operating permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

At the same time, the franchise also requires San Miguel Aerocity Inc. to remit to the national government any amount in excess of the 12% Internal Rate of Return of the Airport City.

Under this profit-sharing agreement in the franchise, above a 12% profit margin, San Miguel Aerocity Inc. will share half of its profits to the government, and all profits above 14%.

The planned NMIA is expected to help to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has now reached overcapacity.

The project involves the construction, operation, and maintenance of a 2,500-hectare airport in Bulacan. The development includes a passenger terminal building with airside and landside facilities, an airport toll road, and four runways.

It includes an 8.4-kilometer tollway connecting the airport to the North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan.

The airport is targeted to be capable of handling up to 100 million passengers per year, seen to create about 30 million tourism-related jobs, and generate more than a million direct jobs for host province Bulacan and nearby provinces.—AOL, GMA News