The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will revive the bidding for the rehabilitation and expansion of the country’s main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), this year.
Jaime Bautista, DOTr secretary, said the agency will push the rebidding of NAIA’s rehabilitation and will invite the private sector to participate anew.
“Yes, we will invite the private sector again, revisit the possibility of doing Public-Private Partnership for NAIA,” Bautista told reporters in an interview on the sidelines of the Cavitex-C5 Link flyover inaugural ceremony over the weekend.
NAIA Consortium, dubbed as the “super consortium” as it is composed of seven conglomerates, as well as the Megawide and GMR consortium could participate again in the bidding, according to Bautista.
“The discussion should start within the year. We met the members of the consortium and they gave us the interest to start the discussion,” Bautista added.
More than four years ago, the previous administration received proposals from two groups, NAIA Consortium and Megawide-GMR, for NAIA’s rehabilitation. The former’s proposal was accepted and underwent revision.
The country’s giant conglomerates make up the NAIA Consortium, namely, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
It initially submitted a P350-billion proposal for the rehabilitation and expansion of NAIA that involves the construction of a third runway, with a longer concession of 35 years.
In July 2018, DOTr awarded the original proponent status (OPS) to the NAIA Consortium after its proposal was revised that resulted in the removal of the third runway and a shorter concession period of 15 years, amounting to P102 billion.
The P102-billion proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of NAIA, upgrading airside facilities, and developing commercial facilities and airport efficiencies.
After two years of failed discussions with the government, the NAIA Consortium withdrew its unsolicited proposal. The government then accepted Megawide-GMR’s proposal to rehabilitate the airport for P150 billion for a concession period of 18 years.
The consortium secured the OPS in just a few months but this was revoked by the Manila International Airport Authority in December 2020.
San Miguel Corp. and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. also submitted proposals for NAIA’s rehabilitation before the Duterte administration ended, while the government continues the improvements in the airport.
Prior to the pandemic, NAIA has been operating beyond its ideal capacity of 35 million passengers yearly.