(from left to right) Mr. Tako de Veth of Royal Boskalis conducts a briefing for Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya. Looking on are Boskalis’ Mr. Edgar van Oers and Mr. Anne Jan Fokkema.
The Hague - The Philippine Embassy in The Hague welcomed the involvement of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., one of the world’s leading dredging and heavy-lift companies, in the land development project of the new Manila International Airport.
During a recent courtesy call by representatives of the Royal Boskalis at the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya said that “the selection of Royal Boskalis affirms the superior technical expertise of the company in reclamation and land development and underscores the dynamism of Philippine-Netherlands economic partnership. A second international airport in Metro Manila will certainly boost tourism, enhance logistic flows, generate further investments in the area and create jobs.”
Royal Boskalis was awarded the contract in December 2020 for the land development design and construction of the new Manila International Airport in Bulacan province by San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI), a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation. Approximately 1,700 hectares of land will be developed for the new airport located some 20 kilometers north of Metro Manila. The Philippine Government has granted a 50-year concession to SMAI to build, operate and maintain the airport.
The Boskalis representatives who visited the Embassy were Director of Operations Anne Jan Fokkema, Dredging Manager Edgar van Oers and Manila International Airport Project Package Manager Tako de Veth. The company officials affirmed that it will undertake its work on an environmentally-sound basis and protect the Manila Bay shoreline. The company will also help develop sustainable and resilient communities in the nearby municipalities and hire and offer competitive compensation packages for Filipinos who have the right skills and experience.
According to company officials, the airport land development project has an estimated value of EUR 1.5 billion (approximately P87 billion pesos), making it the largest project in Boskalis’ history.
Royal Boskalis, which is headquartered in Papendrecht, The Netherlands, has one of the world's largest dredging fleets, a large stake in the salvage company Smit International and owns Dockwise, a large heavy-lift shipping company. As of 2020, Boskalis employs around 9,900 employees and 650 ships. They operate in over 75 countries in six continents.
Boskalis’ sustainability strategy is aligned with their business strategy, Boskalis officials said. It addresses their ability to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), notably affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; climate action, and life below water.
Boskalis company was involved in the expansion of Suez Canal in 2014, and recently, in the successful salvage operation of the 20,000 TEU container vessel Ever Green on 29 March 2021, thereby making passage through the Suez Canal possible again.
Boskalis also undertook in 2014 a dredging project and exploration for the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, a joint venture among the Philippine National Oil Company, Chevron and Shell Philippines Exploration. The project was part of the optimization of the Malampaya gas field. Boskalis was responsible for the seabed work, dredging and rock installation, as well as for the transport and installation of the offshore platform.
(from left to right) Attaché Elea V. Perez, Consul General Lolita B. Capco, Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya with Boskalis officials Mr. Edgar van Oers, Mr. Anne Jan Fokkema and Mr. Tako de Veth.