The Transportation Department said Thursday it will start the auction process for the P74.56-billion contract to operate and maintain the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by January 2017 after President Duterte approved the project.
Duterte, the chairman of the National Economic and Development Authority board, approved nine projects worth P171.14 billion, including the Naia contract on Sept. 14.
“Once implemented and completed, these approved projects will help attain our medium- and long-term development goals of making the agricultural sector competitive, improving mobility by making our transport system safer and more efficient, increasing disaster resiliency, and improving health services,” said Economic Planning Secretary and Neda director-general Ernesto Pernia.
Under the Naia contract, the government will award a 15 to 20-year concession to the private sector to improve safety and security, maximize capacity through “refreshed” infrastructure, improve passenger service standards in the existing gateway, operate and maintain Naia and its four terminals.
The Transportation Department expects to begin PPP procurement this month and award and sign a concession agreement by September 2017.
Transportation Undersecretary for aviation and airports Robert Lim said the agency was in the process of finalizing the terms for the bidding of the redevelopment and operation and maintenance of Naia.
“By January next year, we will release the advertisement to invite interested companies to bid in the project,” Lim said. Bid submission for the project was likely in August next year, he said.
Other projects approved by the Neda board were the Inclusive Partnership for Agricultural Competitiveness of the Department of Agriculture which is estimated to cost P10.2 billion; Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center Modernization Project worth P2.4 billion; Modernization of Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital Project worth P2.2 billion; and Metro Manila Flood Management Project, Phase I with an estimated cost of P23.5 billion.
Also approved were Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transi–Edsa worth P37.8 billion; Increase in Passenger Terminal Building Area of the Bicol International Airport valued at P4.8 billion; Change in Scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project with P7.8 billion; and Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project worth P8 billion.