Four big groups are vying for the P171-billion contract to rehabilitate, optimize, and maintain the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Department of Transportation said.
Eight groups earlier bought bid documents, but only the Manila International Airport Consortium, Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airport Consortium, and SMC SAP & Co. Consortium submitted their bids before the 10 a.m. deadline yesterday.
“This is a very important project of the government. The airport is very, very congested,” Transportation Secretary Jame Bautista said.
The Manila International Airport Consortium is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Ayala’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global-Infracorp, Filinvest, and JG Summit Holdings.
GMR Airport Consortium, which earlier operated the Mactan Cebu International Airport, is now joined by the Yuchencgco-led House of Investments and Cavitex Holdings for the NAIA project, while SMC is building the new international airport in Bulacan.
The Asian Airport Consortium, on the other hand, is with Cosco Capital Inc.
NAIA handles about 50 million passengers annually, more than 50 percent higher than its designed capacity of only 32 million passengers a year.
The DOTr’s Bids and Awards Committee will open the technical bids after 10 days from the date of submission, followed by the financial bids.
The department expects to award the contract by the first quarter of 2024 and achieve financial closure by the second quarter.
Once the airport is turned over to the winning bidder, its capacity is expected to increase to 60 million passengers annually.
The DOTr and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will serve as co-grantors for the project, which would have a 15-year concession period and an option for a 10-year extension.
The NAIA project involves capital investment to improve the airport’s facilities to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other internationally accepted standards.
This includes modernizing the terminals; optimizing and enhancing the capacity of the airport to 62 million passengers a year; enhancing asset quality and passenger experience; improving the information and technology systems infrastructure; and ensuring reliable operations over the period of the concession.
The concessionaire will also be responsible for both landside and airside operations of the NAIA.
