MVP eyes NAIA operation and maintenance project

MANILA, Philippines – The group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan may bid for the project to upgrade as well as handle the operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Pangilinan over the weekend told reporters, his group is interested in the NAIA PPP project of the Department of Transportation and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

“We would take a look at it,” he said.

During the first meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority Board under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte held on Sept.14, the NEDA Board approved the P74.6-billion NAIA PPP project.

The project, which is doable within three years, is expected to improve the safety and security, as well as maximize the capacity of the country’s main international gateway.

It will involve putting in place infrastructure or assets for air traffic and land side management.

Under the deal, the winning private firm will also operate and maintain the airport according to international standards.

The concession period for the project is for 15 to 20 years, including the design and construction period.

Procurement for the project is expected to begin soon, while the award and signing of the concession agreement is seen to take place by September next year.

Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is involved in various infrastructure projects in the rail and tollway sectors under the PPP scheme.

As the current administration moves away from the practice of awarding PPP contracts based on the highest premiums paid to the government and is considering conducting the bidding for projects based on the lowest user fees by consumers, Pangilinan said the latter is a mode of bidding his group supports.

“It’s a different approach and I think it is a more responsive approach to the consumer. For example, if it’s tollways, one model is to bid on the basis of the highest price or premium payable by the winning bidder to the government. The other mode of bidding is the lowest fare you will charge to the consumer. In that mode, the benefit flows directly to the consumer, to the motorists. So, that’s a scheme we would actually favor. If that is the mode of bidding by the government, we totally endorse that,” he said.

Even as the procurement for NAIA PPP has yet to start, Pangilinan said his group through PLDT Foundation, is willing to provide support to the government to make improvements at the NAIA.

After the launch of Smart Communications Inc.’s upgraded WiFi service at the NAIA on Friday to allow passengers free access to high-speed internet, Pangilinan said the PLDT Foundation is also looking to donate trolleys for the expected increase in passengers for the Christmas season, as well as plants to help improve the ambience of the arrival area.

He said the group could also provide security devices and data analytics at the NAIA.

“I was telling (MIAA general manager) Ed (Monreal), we should provide them with security devices and data analytics so they can analyze data of incoming and outgoing tourists because internet is not just connectivity, but it is also more than that,” he said.