By RUELLE CASTRO and MYLA IGLESIAS
The Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC) composed of the country’s six biggest conglomerates, is proposing to improve the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for P100 billion.
This is yet another attempt by the country’s biggest companies to take on the NAIA modernization project, two years after withdrawing its plan.
The partnership of Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Alliance Global — Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and US-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) yesterday said it submitted an unsolicited proposal to the government for the upgrade that includes a “significant upfront payment” to the government and committed investments in new facilities and technology to transform NAIA into a world-class airport.
The proposal involves the expansion of NAIA’s capacity to efficiently serve up to 62.5 million passengers per annum (MPPA) by 2028–more than double its capacity of 31 MPPA.
“Pre-pandemic passenger traffic had reached 48 MPPA in 2019, underscoring the need to upgrade the airport to meet growing demand,” the consortium said in a statement.
“We are ready to put our combined resources forward in partnering with the government on this massive undertaking. Our consortium brings unrivalled expertise, proven solutions and extensive capital. As the only large-scale operating gateway airport to the Philippines, the modernization and long-term sustainability of NAIA is a critical development priority for both the country’s public and private sectors. Recognizing the primacy of NAIA to the country’s economic growth, the consortium is bringing highly complementary expertise and making an unprecedented commitment to its sustainability and continued viability,” said Kevin Tan, MIAC director.
The consortium operates some of the notable airports in globally – Mactan-Cebu, Clark, London Gatwick, Edinburgh, London City and Sydney airports.
In February 2018, the same members of MIAC plus Metro Pacific Investments Corp. then collectively known as Super Consortium or NAIA Consortium submitted a P102- billion proposal but withdrew its plan in 2020.
In July 2021, the Department of Transportation DOTr awarded the original proponent status (OPS) to Megawide and GMR Infrastructure for P108.75 billion in unsolicited proposal for NAIA but the Manila International Airport Authority revoked the OPS in December of the same year without citing a specific reason.
The DOTr accepted the unsolicited proposal of San Miguel Corp and the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solution Inc. in 2021 but the deal did not push through when the Duterte administration announced it will no longer pursue the project.
