Transport dept favors ‘super’ consortium offer
Airport authority to decide on grant of original proponent status – Tugade
CLARK, PAMPANGA: The Transportation department has recommended the grant of original proponent status to a so-called “super” consortium that has proposed to rehabilitate and upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“Mayroon na pong decision at papel na ginawa yung planning namin kung saan ang sinasabi po doon bigyan niyo na ng original proponent status ito (Our planning unit has already prepared a decision recommending the grant of original proponent status),” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters during a visit to the department’s new head office in Clark.
“Yung rekomendasyon na yun ibinigay po sa MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority). Bakit po sa MIAA? Pagkat sila po ang tinatawag na primary agency … Final na ba yun? Hindi ho, kasi kailangan aprubahan ng board of directors ng MIAA (The recommendation was given to the MIAA. Why? Because they are the primary agency … Is it final? No, because it still has to be approved by the MIAA board),” Tugade added.
Seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates are represented in the NAIA Consortium — composed of 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. — that submitted a P350-billion unsolicited proposal in February to transform and operate NAIA over a 35-year period.
This was challenged in March by the GMR-Megawide consortium, the operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which offered a cheaper P156-billion project and a shorter 18-year concession.
The proposal, however, was apparently not even considered as the NAIA Consortium’s offer had already passed the Transportation department’s review.
“We didn’t open the documents,” Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso Jr. said.
“We informed them that somebody has submitted ahead of time with complete documentation and we’re in the process of evaluating, and until after the evaluation is completed and the proposal is rejected, we cannot open your documents,” he added.
NAIA Consortium and GMR-Megawide representatives were not immediately available for comment.
MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal, meanwhile, said the agency’s board would discuss the Transportation department’s recommendation on Thursday.
“Natanggap na po namin ang endorsement letter from DOTr (Department of Transportation) planning giving us notice to adopt the proposal (We have already received the DOTr planning letter giving us notice to adopt the proposal),” Monreal said.
“Iyan po ay dadaan sa board. Ang board ay magco-convene sa Huwebes at yan po ay tatalakayin sa board… (This will go through the board. The board will convene on Wednesday and discuss this),” he added.
“[A]fter which … Ibabalik sa DOTr and ang DOTr ang mag-aakyat sa ICC (Investment Coordination Committee) (it will be returned to the DOTr and the DOTr will raise it to the ICC).”.
The ICC is an interagency panel chaired by the Finance and Socioeconomic Planning secretaries, with the Executive Secretary; Agriculture, Trade and Budget secretaries; and the central bank chief as members, that evaluates major national projects and recommends their approval to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board chaired by the President.
The grant of original proponent status is expected to pave the way for a Swiss challenge, where other interested bidders will be given a chance to match or exceed the NAIA Consortium’s unsolicited offer.
The consortium has said that the development would first focus on the improvement and the expansion of NAIA’s three terminals, followed by the development of a third runway, new taxiways, additional terminals and related infrastructure.
The plan includes the construction of a “people mover” railway linking the three terminals to the Light Rail Transport system and the proposed Metro Manila Subway.
Singapore’s Changi Airport has been tapped by the consortium as a technical consultant.
Also up for approval before the NEDA board is an unsolicited offer by San Miguel Corporation to build a P735-billion airport in Bulacan as an alternative to congested NAIA.
FROM A REPORT BY REICELENE JOY N. IGNACIO
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