MCIA bidding row tourism leader warns impact on Phl’s foreign investment

CEBU, Philippines - The reversal on the winning bidder of the multi-million peso Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) rehabilitation project will put the country's image towards foreign investors at stake, a leader of travel organizations warned yesterday.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), said the move to disqualify the consortium of Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure Ltd. as winning bidder to rehabilitate the airport will affect foreign investment in the Philippines.

"It is our responsibility to support the winning bidder and not allow any shenanigans to break the rules all because somebody has some conditional bonuses," Joseph said during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday. Present during the forum were officers of the consortium.

Joseph cited some government projects won by foreign investors after which the Supreme Court reversed it in favor of local contractors, who in turn delivered the project found to be substandard.

He issued the warning following the move of seven of nine Cebuano members of the House of Representatives to seek a congressional inquiry on the alleged controversial bidding of the P17.5 billion MCIA Public Private Partnership project.

The consortium of Megawide and GMR won the bidding. But the second highest bidder, Filinvest Group, questioned the financial capacity of the consortium and accused the group of conflict of interest due to partnerships with Malaysian airports.

"That has been a black eye to Philippine foreign investment. If this will be tolerated, the image of the country is at stake," Joseph said.

GMR corporate communications group head Manish Kalghatgi said he strongly believes the bidding process was transparent.

"Each passing day, the delay that is happening in the process will have a negative impact for Cebu and in the Philippines," he said.

Having seen how GMR operated the airport in New Delhi, India, Joseph said he disagrees with the portrayal that the company is questionable.

Megawide corporate marketing officer Louie Ferrer also assured the company is not just be a contractor to the airport expansion project but more of GMR's partner.

"We are committed to deliver an airport that all Filipinos can be proud of and Cebuanos can call your own," Ferrer said in the same forum.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the investigation on the pre-bidding qualification in relation to the project is an affront to the integrity of the board.

"I cannot imagine because when you start investigating means you start questioning the composition (of the MCIAA Board). This is bringing the integrity of the board in question," Rama said.

"We might end up bidding everywhere, here and there," he added.

Although he is not part of the airport's governing body, Rama said he trust the "probity" of the board.

"Apil-apil tag tingog tapos dili ta i-acknowledge mura tag-apil-apilon ani.  Mao nga salig lang ta sa board," he said.  (FREEMAN)