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Friday, March 29, 2024

Naia Consortium hopeful on being original proponent

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A consortium of seven conglomerates said Wednesday it expects to get the original proponent status from the government for the planned P350-billion rehabilitation and expansion of Ninoy Aquino International Airport despite a similar proposal from rival GMR Megawide Consortium. 

“We hope they will grant us OPS. Our proposal is the best solution of the problem that we are experiencing now,” Naia Consortium spokesperson Jose Emmanuel Reverente said.

Naia Consortium’s members include 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 Department of Transportation  earlier declared the proposal of Naia Consortium “complete” in accordance with the documentary requirements stated under the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

The “completeness” criterion will be followed by the evaluation of the proposal and grant of an original proponent status. After further evaluations and approval by National Economic and Development Authority, it will be subject to a Swiss challenge. 

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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 committed to spend P100 billon for Phase 1 and P250 billion for Phase 2. 

“Our urgent goal is to increase the capacity of Naia to 65 million by 2020 from the terminal design capacity of 47 million,” Reverente said. 

Naia Consortium tapped Changi International of Singapore as a technical consultant to make sure the upgraded Naia would remain the premier gateway to the Filipino people. 

The consortium submitted its proposal to the government on Feb. 12, ahead of Megawide GMR submission on March 1. 

Megawide GMR’s $3-billion investment proposal to rehabilitate Naia includes all airside, terminal and landside improvement which will be done in three phases.

The consortium targets to increase the total annual throughput of Naia to 72 million passengers.

Megawide GMR also proposed a shorter concession term of 18 years compared to Naia Consortium’s 35 years. 

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