New Manila International Airport Project Overview

This document provides a non-technical summary (NTS) of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report prepared by Mott MacDonald for the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) located in Bulakan, Bulacan, Philippines. The NTS outlines the project’s descriptions, its background, necessity, construction details, and implications for the environment and society.

1. Introduction

1.1 Overview

The NMIA project encompasses various components necessary for airport development, including land preparation, terminal buildings, runways, and supporting structures. A series of supplementary ESIAs for associated facilities have also been conducted. The findings and recommendations from these assessments are summarized herein.

1.2 Project Development

San Miguel Aerocity, Inc. (SMAI) is spearheading the NMIA development under a 50-year concession agreement with the Philippine government, utilizing a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework. Mott MacDonald has been commissioned to draft the ESIA.

1.3 Project Necessity

The NMIA is crucial for mitigating air traffic congestion at the existing Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which has exceeded its runway capacity. This project is aligned with government efforts to enhance infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.

1.4 Project Schedule

The NMIA is planned in three phases, with Phase 1 targeting an annual capacity of 35 million passengers. Site preparation began in early 2021, with commercial operations anticipated to commence by March 2027.

1.5 Construction Methods

Construction activities will include extensive dredging and land development, making use of various machinery and vessels to form the airport platform.

2. ESIA Process and Approach

2.1 Steps in ESIA

The ESIA process consists of screening, scoping, baseline description, impact assessment, mitigation measures, management, monitoring, auditing, and stakeholder engagement. It aims to evaluate the potential environmental and social impacts and establish measures to enhance positive effects while mitigating negative ones.

3. Baseline Conditions

3.1 Environmental Baseline

Baseline conditions were assessed for the physical and biological environments, air quality, noise levels, and biodiversity within the project area. The findings confirm that existing conditions are generally compliant with national standards.

3.2 Social Baseline

The project area is situated in a region economically reliant on fishing and agriculture, providing significant implications for local employment and social dynamics. Stakeholder engagement has been undertaken to assess community perspectives.

3.3 Human Rights Context

Human rights conditions in the area highlight various socio-economic challenges, including limited access to basic services and labor issues. This context will influence project interactions with local populations.

4. Key Potential Environmental and Social Impacts

4.1 Construction Impacts

Construction activities may cause temporary environmental disturbances, including noise, air quality degradation, and potential impacts on biodiversity.

4.2 Operational Impacts

Operational phases will introduce long-term impacts related to increased traffic and permanent changes to land use.

5. Environmental and Social Management Plan

5.1 Mitigation Measures

Comprehensive mitigation measures have been proposed to address adverse impacts, including engineering controls, community engagement initiatives, and long-term environmental monitoring strategies.

6. Key Residual Impacts

6.1 Residual Environmental Effects

Despite mitigation efforts, significant residual effects are anticipated, primarily concerning biodiversity impacts and air quality concerns. Attention will be needed to manage public health and safety throughout construction and operation phases.

7. Stakeholder Engagement Framework

7.1 Overview

Stakeholder engagement is a vital component of the ESIA process, including continuous dialogue with community members. A grievance mechanism is in place to address community concerns.

7.2 Planned Activities

Engagement will be carried out in phases aligned with project development, aimed at transparency and community inclusion.

7.3 Grievance Mechanism

The grievance mechanism allows local communities to formally raise issues related to project impacts, ensuring concerns are logged and addressed accordingly.

Appendices

A. Project Leaflet

A detailed project leaflet outlining the NMIA's key components is included as an appendix.

New Manila International Airport Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Overview

New Manila International Airport Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Overview