The Department of Transportation said it expects to endorse to the National Economic and Development Authority the unsolicited offer of Naia Consortium to rehabilitate and develop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport next week.
“Maybe next week. We don’t see any [impeding] issue,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Transportation Undersecretary for planning Reuben Reinoso earlier said there were provisions in the consortium’s proposal which appeared to require a government guarantee.
The consortium secured an original proponent status for the rehabilitation and upgrade of Naia in September 2018. The declaration of the original proponent is considered the first step in the rehabilitation and expansion of Naia which is operating beyond its rated capacity.
The consortium’s proposal is still subject to review and approval by Neda’s board and to a Swiss Challenge in accordance with the requirements of Republic Act No. 7718 or the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
The unsolicited proposal, which was submitted to the DOTr and Manila International Airport Authority on Feb. 12, 2018, aims to transform Naia into a regional airport hub and expand its capacity to meet the anticipated growth in passenger traffic.
The Naia project supports the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program with its plan to develop the airport into a world-class facility and a regional air transport hub by upgrading its airside, landside and air navigation support”•building on the gains already achieved by the DOTr in terms of improving the traffic of aircraft movements on its runways.
The P102-billion 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.
The project will increase Naia’s capacity to 65 million passengers per year from about 40 million. It will elevate Naia to the level of major regional airports such as Changi in Singapore and Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok. It is also seen to become a viable transit hub for the Asean region.
Naia Consortium tapped Changi Airports International Pte. Ltd. of Singapore to provide technical support in the areas of master planning, operations optimization and commercial development.