San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced potential delays in the opening of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulacan and the completion of the MRT-7 project. In a disclosure to the stock exchange, SMC cited a shortage of sand needed for construction as a primary cause for the delay of the Bulacan airport. The lack of sand resulted from the suspension of Manila Bay reclamation projects, which have limited the company’s access to sand for backfilling. SMC indicated that if these materials become available, the airport could open by the first quarter of 2028.
The MRT-7 project is also facing delays, potentially extending its completion date to 2028. While partial operations are expected to begin next year, the completion of the line up to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, might be postponed due to a proposed realignment and relocation of a station by the local government of San Jose del Monte. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) previously anticipated that the Quezon City portion of MRT-7, which includes 12 stations, would be operational by the end of next year, with the San Jose del Monte station targeted for completion in 2027.
Additionally, SMC clarified ongoing discussions with Metro Pacific Investments Corp regarding a possible merger of their tollway operations, although no definitive agreement has been reached yet. SMC is also preparing to take over the operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this September.