DOTr chief accepts NAIA consortium offer

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has accepted the revised proposal of the super consortium of seven conglomerates to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after it was previously given an ultimatum.

A report by CNN Philippines yesterday quoted Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was interviewed on “The Source,” as saying that the DOTr has found the NAIA consortium’s proposal acceptable.

Tugade earlier set an April 30 deadline for the NAIA consortium to finalize its concession agreement with the government and warned he would not talk to them if nothing materializes by that date.

“After reviewing it, we find their revised proposal acceptable,” Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso said in a phone interview.

The decision was arrived at on Tuesday evening, according to Reinoso, following a review of the consortium’s re-submitted proposal late Monday.

Reinoso said provisions in the concession agreement were found to be in sync with the template of the concession agreement for the Clark International Airport operations and maintenance contract.

DOTr’s approval indicates the NAIA consortium will be able to push through with its P102-billion plan to rehabilitate, upgrade, expand, operate and maintain the aging NAIA for 15 years.

It will also have an upper hand once a Swiss challenge is undertaken for the project as it has been granted an original proponent status.

Reinoso said the Manila International Airport Authority, which manages the NAIA, will also take a look at the finalized agreement.

It would then have to be returned to the DOTr for endorsement to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Investment Coordination Committee.

Once approved by the NEDA board, the project will then undergo a Swiss challenge.

The DOTr said if Tugade is to be followed, he would like to have an award in 90 days.

The consortium submitted a revised proposal Thursday last week as part of its commitment to comply with the April 30 deadline.

Following the submission last week, DOTr gave its comments on the proposal. The consortium then resubmitted its offer late Monday, based on the government’s comments.

The NAIA consortium is composed of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates, which are 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.

The group’s proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of NAIA, upgrading airside facilities, developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhancing passenger comfort and experience and elevating the status of NAIA as the country’s premier international gateway.

It has committed to implement the improvements with minimal disruption to ongoing airport operations, as well as start work immediately after the airport is turned over to them.