Sangley airport bid still under evaluation

MANILA, Philippines — The lone bid for the Sangley Point International Airport project remains under scrutiny by the Cavite government’s public-private partnership selection committee, with the ongoing evaluation eyed to be completed this week.

“The PPP selection committee is still in the process of carefully evaluating the proposal submitted. Once done, the selection committee will issue its findings,” said Jesse Grepo, legal officer of the selection committee.

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said in a text message last week that results of the review of the proposal by the tandem of Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and China Communications Construction Corp. (CCCC) should be known in a week’s time.

Remulla earlier said the target is to award by Jan. 15  the Sangley Point International Airport project to the MacroAsia- CCCC team should its bid pass the evaluation.

“Best effort on the part of the committee to finish the evaluation by Jan. 25” Grepo said.

“If ever the notice of findings will be moved, it should not be that long,” he said.

The tandem of MacroAsia and CCCC was the sole bidder for the $10 billion Sangley Point International Airport project which will be developed in partnership with the provincial government of Cavite.

The project is being undertaken by the Cavite government under the public-private partnership code, which no longer requires the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority for implementation.

The MacroAsia-CCCC tandem is expected to invest in the development of the infrastructure of the airport, while other components such as operations and management and security will be bidded out.

Once completed, the 1,500-hectare master-planned international airport hub will feature four runways, airside and landside facilities, and can accommodate up to 130 million passengers annually.

Its first runway is expected to be completed in three years or by 2022 as part of the project’s first phase. The second phase of development will follow with target completion on 2028.

The airport is also eyed to be co-used by the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force to ensure that safeguards will be in place in asserting Philippine sovereignty and security.

MacroAsia is a publicly listed aviation support service provider and the country’s market leader in ground handling services, in-flight catering and maintenance repair and overhaul through its partnership with Lufthansa Technik of Germany.

As part of the Lucio Tan conglomerate and as an affiliate of Philippine Airlines, the company said it brings comprehensive expertise and best practices in developing and operating key operating functions in an airport.

Tan’s group is also involved in the plan to rehabilitate, operate, and expand the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Tan-led Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. is a member of a group of seven conglomerates dubbed as the NAIA consortium.

Meanwhile, CCCC is a state-owned engineering and construction company engaged in investment, design and construction of transportation infrastructure, with experience in both airport and reclamation projects.

CCCC was previously debarred by the World Bank due to alleged fraudulent practices by one of its subsidiaries, China Road and Bridge Corp., with sanctions extending to the entire group under CCCC and all its affiliate companies worldwide.  

The debarment was lifted in Jan. 2017 and CCCC has since been allowed to participate in all World Bank Group-financed tenders.

According to MacroAsia, its expertise in the local aviation industry and its Chinese partner’s global experience in international airport development and reclamation make them” the best joint venture partner for the provincial government of Cavite.”