DOTr starts Swiss challenge for Bulacan airport project

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has started the bidding process for the Bulacan airport project as it issued a call to potential challengers to conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

The DOTr published yesterday an invitation to interested companies and groups to submit comparative proposals for the New Manila International Airport Project that will rise in Bulacan.

“The DOTr invites local and international companies to submit comparative proposals under a Swiss challenge bidding process to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the project under a 50-year concession period,” the DOTr said.

Interested companies are asked to submit all documentary requirements and pay a non-refundable fee of P10 million.

The Swiss challenge documents will be available from April 22 to June 23.

The DOTr said a single-stage qualification and bidding would be undertaken for the project in accordance with the revised implementing rules and regulations of the Philippine BOT Law.

The bid parameter will be the total lot area to be granted to the government within the “aerotropolis” with each lot area of not less than 10 hectares, the agency said.

Opening of bids is set on June 23, and potential bidders will be able to submit their bids on or before the said date.

“In the event that a comparative proponent submits a bid proposal better than those submitted by the original proponent, the original proponent shall have the right to match the best offer or such proposal, in accordance with BOT Law and revised IRR,” the DOTr said.

San Miguel Holdings Corp. has been given the original proponent status by the DOTr for its unsolicited proposal for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the New Manila International Airport Project.

The P754 billion airport proposal was granted approval by the NEDA in April last year.

The project aims to develop a new international gateway airport with air passenger terminal facilities with an ultimate design capacity of 100 million annual passengers, as well as airside facilities with an ultimate configuration of four parallel runways.

The project also includes aviation-related equipment and support facilities, as well as an eight-kilometer airport toll road linking the project with the North Luzon Expressway.

Development of the Bulacan airport is part of the DOTr’s multi-airport strategy to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, which serves as the country’s main international gateway.  

Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo earlier said the awarding of the concession agreement for the Bulacan airport could take place by the third quarter.

Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso, for his part, has said SMC has committed to make the first phase of the project operational in three to four years, which would include two runways and a capacity of 35 million passengers.