A CONSTRUCTION firm has proposed a joint venture to expedite the Zamboanga city government’s plan to transfer the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) to the village of Mercedes in the east coast.

The proposal is a joint venture undertaking among the investor, city government, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Philippine Air Force (PAF) and other agencies engaged in land acquisition, construction of the airport and disposal of the current site of the airport.

A company representative presented the initial proposal to concerned agencies in a meeting convened by City Administrator Marie Angelique Go on Thursday, July 12, at Centro Latino Convention Hall.

Go said the meeting was attended by representatives from CAAP, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), PAF, City Assessor, City Planning and Development Coordinator, civil society groups, private sector and others.

Go said the proposal to transfer the airport is the subject of an environmental and social impact assessment conducted by a surveying firm contracted by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

She said the process is expected to be completed in August this year.

The proposed ZIA project costing P9.87 billion has already been endorsed as priority to the national government by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).