President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered "immediate" commencement of operations at Sangley airport in Cavite to help decongest the capital's main airport.
The order was given during a Cabinet meeting late Monday after a sudden inspection of the President at Ninoy Aquino International Airport amid reports of flight delays and cancellations.
"The president directs the operation at Sangley Point to begin immediately," President Spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday.
Duterte was disappointed with the conditions at NAIA, which operates four terminals, and indicated improvements, he said.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the initial plan was to transfer domestic flights to Cavite airport.
The draft executive order will be submitted to the President regarding this issue, said Panelo.
Panelo said Tugade had tested ferries that could transport passengers from the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City to Sangley in 18 to 24 minutes.
Regarding security issues at the Cavite gate, Panelo said President Duterte preferred that one entity take over from either the military or civilian bodies.
A group led by the late billionaire Henry Sy and media figure Wilson Tieng previously offered to build a new airport at Sangley Point, Cavite at a cost of $ 12 billion.
Tugade has expressed openness to unsolicited proposals from business groups for new airports and ports.