The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is fast-tracking the evaluation and completion of a P100-billion unsolicited proposal to modernize and expand the country’s premier gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), as well as nine regional airports in the country.
At the Makati Business Club event entitled “Raising PH Transport to Global Standards” yesterday, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency is working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as an advisor to help finalize the terms of reference of the expansion and modernization of NAIA.
Bautista has created a committee that will evaluate the unsolicited proposal for NAIA.
“I have formed a dedicated team to work on this, because I think this is a priority project although we are open to a solicited proposal because the original plan is to have a solicited proposal and ADB is helping us,” he said.
The DOTr is in the process of checking the completion of the unsolicited proposal submitted by Manila International Airport Consortium, which is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Alliance Global-Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and foreign partner Global Infrastructure Partners.
The DOTr has 35 days or until next month to evaluate the documents submitted by the conglomerates.
“We’re given 35 days to check the completion so we’re now in the process of checking the completion of the documents submitted to us,” Bautista said.
Bautista emphasized the need to expand NAIA along with the three major airports in Luzon to address the anticipated surge in air passenger traffic to 100 million by 2040, from 40 million to 45 million currently.
The DOTr is also fast-tracking the public-private partnership projects for nine regional airports which include Laguindingan, Bohol-Panglao, Bicol International Airport, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod and Kalibo airports.
Bautista said the unsolicited proposals for Laguindingan Airport, Bohol-Panglao Airport and Bicol International Airport are with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and are under evaluation.
Some documentary requirements need to be completed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
“These unsolicited proposals were submitted during the past administration, we’re fast-tracking the completion of these, and hopefully by today, the CAAP will be able to submit all the documents which are being requested by NEDA, and with that, I’m hoping these can be included in the NEDA-ICC (Investment Coordination Committee) Cabinet Committee meeting on May 29,” Bautista added.
Other projects like unsolicited proposals for the Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod and Kalibo airports are undergoing review.
“Because there is an amendment in the BOT (Build-Operate Transfer) law, and with the new IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations), we requested the proponent to update the proposal within the next few weeks,” Bautista said.
Meanwhile, the CAAP expects a minimal number of affected flights during the scheduled temporary airspace closure on May 17 from 2 to 4 a.m.
CAAP said it has coordinated with and advised concerned stakeholders, such as air carriers and airport operators, the Manila International Airport Authority, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) and GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), in advance regarding the intended corrective maintenance activity. In addition, corresponding notices to airmen were promulgated to inform all stakeholders.
According to GMCAC, no flights will be affected at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.For Clark International Airport, four regional flights will be affected, according to a source from LIPAD which operates Clark airport.
In addition, AirAsia Philippines announced that 12 flights have been retimed on May 16 and two flights on May 17, while six domestic flights are canceled on May 17.
During the airspace closure, the Air Traffic Management Center’s (ATMC) power supply will undergo an upgrade that involves the installation of a bypass panel to provide seamless ATM operations and the reconfiguration of the existing power distribution panel to segregate ATM system A (voice) and ATM system B (data). This will result in the two UPS serving as each other’s independent backup in case one power supply encounters a problem.
The ATMC houses the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management system, which manages air traffic within the Philippine Flight Information Region.
