The Department of Transportation declared as ‘complete’ the unsolicited proposal of seven conglomerates to improve and expand Ninoy Aquino International Airport at a cost of P350 billion.
The Naia Consortium said it received a letter from the department on March 12 declaring that the group’s proposal to expand the main gateway was “in accordance with the documentary requirements” under 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.
“This finding is a major milestone for an unsolicited proposal likes ours to progress in the bureaucracy. An incomplete proposal does not move forward,” Naia Consortium spokesperson Jimbo Reverente said.
The ‘completeness’ criterion will be followed by the evaluation of the proposal and grant of an original proponent status. Reverente said after further evaluations and approval by National Economic and Development Authority, the proposal would be subject to a Swiss challenge.
The proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of Naia, upgrading airside facilities and developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airport efficiencies, enhance passenger comfort and experience and improve public perception of Naia as the country’s premier international gateway.
The project is divided into two phases. Phase 1 includes improvement and expansion of terminals at the current Naia land area, while Phase 2 involves the development of an additional runway, taxiways, passenger terminals and associated support infrastructure. The group proposed a 35-year concession period.
The consortium said it would spend P100 billon for Phase 1 and P250 billion for Phase 2.
“Last year, a total of 42 million passengers passed through the four Naia terminals designed to carry only 31 million passengers. We are hoping to clear the government’s approval process and Swiss challenge at the soonest, so we can begin our work immediately thereafter,” Reverente said.
“Increases in Naia’s terminal design capacity to 47 million will be achieved after two years from award, and to 65 million after four years from award,” he said.
Reverente said the consortium could deliver fast if the government would expedite the approval process as allowed by the rules because the terminals were bursting at the seams and air travel was surging.
“This is actually a national emergency of sorts because Naia holds the key to making business and the economy grow, generating millions of jobs, and even helping the peace process in Mindanao as tourism and investments there grow,” he said.
This first wave of expansion will cost $2 billion or over P100 billion. “Our timetable is the shortest and our budget is cost-efficient,” he said.
Reverente also said the consortium engaged Changi International Airport of Singapore as a technical consultant to make sure the upgraded Naia would deliver as apremiere gateway to the Filipino people.