The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is nearing its announcement of the winning bidder for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as it aims to conclude all of its reviews by Feb. 14 or 15.
“Currently the DOTr, together with the ADB (Asian Development Bank) and its experts, are evaluating the technical proposals submitted by the four bidders. We should be announcing the results next week, Feb. 7 or 8,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim to reporters in a press conference on Feb. 2.
After that, they will proceed to open and evaluate the third box, which contains the financial proposals of the bidders.
“By Feb. 14 or 15, we should be able to announce who the winner is. So that's how close it is,” Lim remarked.
To recall, four consortiums submitted their bids for the NAIA privatization last December. These are the Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC), Asian Airport Consortium, GMR Airport Consortium, and SMC SAP & Co. Consortium.
MIAC comprises Aboitiz InfraCapital, Ayala’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global-Infracorp, Filinvest, and JG Summit Holdings.
The Asian Airport Consortium includes the Asian Infrastructure and Management Corp., Cosco Capital Inc., Philippine Skylanders, Inc., and PT Angkasa Pura II.
GMR Airports International B.V., Cavitex Holdings, Inc. and House of Investments, Inc make up the GMR Airports Consortium.
Meanwhile, the SMC SAP Company Consortium, is formed by the San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc. and Incheon International Airport Corp.
During the technical review, the agencies involved evaluated the bidders’ conditions, particularly their compliance and responsiveness to the terms needed for the project.
At present, no group has yet been eliminated in the bidding by the agency.
“As of now, all of them are qualified. Those are the issues looked upon in the first review – qualifications, who are your consortium members. We've identified them. That is the decision of the DOTr at this time,” said Lim.