Megawide wants another shot at NAIA upgrade project

MANILA, Philippines — Megawide Construction Corp. and its partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India may bid anew for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) should the next administration be interested in the company’s plan.

Megawide executive director for infrastructure development Louie Ferrer said the company is open to pursuing its P109-billion unsolicited proposal to upgrade and transform the country’s main international gateway.

“If the new administration is interested, why not? The proposal is ready. We never closed our doors,” Ferrer said.

Megawide was awarded the original proponent status in July 2020 after government talks bogged down with a super consortium that previously held the OPS for the NAIA rehabilitation project.

In December of the same year, however, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) revoked the OPS.

Megawide appealed the MIAA’s decision, but its motion for reconsideration on the revocation of the OPS for the project was denied in early 2021, putting an end to the company’s grand plans for the airport.

Megawide and GMR’s proposal sought to increase NAIA’s capacity of 30 million to 65 million passengers per year over a strategic and phased approach.

It also included the construction of an additional taxiway and runway holding areas to allow planes to queue and depart at the soonest time to make air traffic significantly manageable.

“We have a good proposal. We have a good project. We have a very good concept in NAIA. It’s just unfortunate it did not push through. Too bad. If it went well, then our new terminal should have been constructed,” Ferrer said.

Aside from NAIA, Ferrer said Megawide is also interested in other airport projects in the country, depending on the new administration’s preference.

“We will be interested since we’re in the best situation. Cebu is in the middle of the Philippines so this can be the main hub and then we’ll just connect,” Ferrer said.

Megawide and GMR, through GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., is the private operator managing the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.