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Infrastructure conglomerate GMR Group expressed strong interest in developing Sangley Point International Airport, a project would require some P150 billion in direct investments
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GMR Group chairman Srinivas Bommidala and other top officials of the company – which had been involved in the redevelopment of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the Clark International Airport – met with a Philippine delegation led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during an official trip last week to India
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Beyond Sangley, GMR is currently looking into opportunities on the planned upgrade of the airports in Bacolod, Tacloban, Busuanga, and Laoag
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It is also actively participating in bids for logistics facilities that will support global cargo operators at the Clark International Airport
Indian infrastructure conglomerate GMR Group has expressed strong interest in developing Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA), a project that would require around P150 billion in direct investment, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
GMR chairman Srinivas Bommidala and other top company officials met with a Philippine delegation led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during an official visit to India last week. GMR has previously worked on the redevelopment of Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport, and continues to provide technical and other services at both. SPIA project developer Cavitex Holdings Inc., represented by chairman Luis Juan Virata, also attended the meeting.
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Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, who was part of the meeting, said discussions centered on GMR’s ongoing and planned investments in Philippine aviation and transport infrastructure. She noted the company has already invested more than P36 billion in Cebu and Clark.
Beyond Sangley, GMR is looking at upgrade projects for smaller airports in Bacolod, Tacloban, Busuanga, and Laoag — moves meant to boost local trade, tourism, and regional development. The company is also bidding for logistics facilities to support global cargo operators at Clark airport.
“We need to push airport projects because we are expecting more planes to land in the Philippines. We also want to further promote tourism and trade,” Roque said in a statement.
For SPIA specifically, the Philippine delegation pointed to the project’s scale: an estimated P500 billion in indirect economic impact, $300 million to $500 million in government revenue, and 10,000 to 15,000 jobs. The airport is part of the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative and is meant to help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
READ: Sangley airport construction eyed to start Q3 2027
The delegation assured GMR of government support through initiatives such as the CREATE MORE Act and the Green Lane Expedited Processing program.
