Bulacan Airport City Infrastructure Updates: What to Know in 2025?
- CHLP REALTY
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
What Is Bulacan Airport City?
Anchor project: Built around the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) and covering ~2,500 ha (6,200 acres) within a larger 12,000‑ha aerotropolis.
Overseen by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the NMIA is a P740‑billion (≈ US $15 billion) project planned as a multi‑runway mega airport to replace Manila's congested NAIA.

Master Plan & Design Vision
Conceived by Palafox Associates, the master plan emphasizes green urbanism, resilience, open spaces, waterfront promenades, mass transit, bike lanes, renewable energy, and zoning clusters for residential, commercial, tourism, education, logistics, health, and government use.
Architecture fosters a sustainable aerotropolis that addresses Metro Manila's urban problems, framed by SMC as a model for future Philippine cities.

The Vision Behind Bulacan Airport City. (Bulacan Airport City infrastructure updates)
Bulacan Airport City is a master-planned mixed-use development spanning 2,500 hectares. Anchored by NMIA in Bulakan town, it is part of a much larger 12,000-hectare “aerotropolis” designed to support residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and recreational zones.
Masterplanned by renowned urban planner Palafox Associates, the development incorporates:
Green and blue open spaces
Coastal resiliency
Renewable energy integration
Multi-modal mass transit systems
Dedicated areas for education, logistics, governance, and health care

What’s New in 2025?
DOTR-Approved Masterplan
Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation officially approved the master plan for NMIA and its surrounding city. This unlocks detailed engineering work and fast-tracks ongoing clearances and permits for large-scale infrastructure.
Groundbreaking Activities Set for 2026
San Miguel Corporation confirmed that runway and terminal development will begin by January 2026, with full support from national agencies. The initial phase includes two runways and a terminal designed to handle 35 million passengers per year.
Transport Network Expansion
Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX): A 19-kilometer tollway connecting the airport to Skyway Stage 3.
MRT-7 Progress: Over 83% completed. Once operational, it will link San Jose del Monte to Quezon City and eventually to the airport.
Plaridel Bypass Road and other local arterial upgrades are in place to support increased activity and traffic flow in northern Bulacan.

Strategic Areas Undergoing Change
Several municipalities surrounding the NMIA are seeing early changes due to infrastructure upgrades and upcoming commercial planning:
Bulakan – Central hub of the airport city, with improved coastal defenses and land elevation.
San Jose del Monte – Will host future MRT-7 intermodal transport points.
Marilao and Bocaue – Witnessing growing commercial footprint due to proximity to expressway interchanges.
Sta. Maria, Obando, Meycauayan – Being reviewed for future road and transport extensions.

Transport & Connectivity Enhancements
Adjacent infrastructure:
Plaridel Bypass Road, NLEX expansions, and the planned Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX)—19 km elevated tolled road linking Skyway Stage 3 to Bulakan, serving NMIA access.
Rails:
MRT‑7, linking San Jose del Monte (Bulacan) to Quezon City, ~83% complete, partial operations expected early 2027. Phase 3 extension will provide direct rail link to NMIA—express service connecting airports and Metro Manila.

Why Urban Planners & Developers Are Watching Closely?
The master plan is not just about an airport—it’s about a new city designed with climate resiliency, transport integration, and future-readiness. Sustainable cities are a core agenda of modern development, and Bulacan is being positioned as a national model.
It’s not just the infrastructure that matters—it’s how it creates a ripple effect in how people live, move, and connect. This makes Bulacan a significant case study in urban transformation and regional investment planning.

Key Takeaways: Bulacan Airport City infrastructure updates
Bulacan Airport City is a long-term urban transformation project, not just an airport facility.
Infrastructure projects like NALEX, MRT-7, and Plaridel Bypass are aligning to serve this mega-development.
Urban planners, civil engineers, and economic development advocates see this as a testbed for climate-resilient smart cities.
Local governments are preparing their land use and zoning policies to accommodate this national priority.

If you're following Bulacan Airport City infrastructure updates development in the Philippines, keep your eyes on Bulacan Airport City. This is not just a transport upgrade—it’s a city in the making.
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