Solons, gov’t exec push extension of bidding for Naia rehab project

Facade of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers and an anti-poverty official on Sunday called for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to heed the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) advice for the extension of the bidding period for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (Naia) rehabilitation by one month.

ADB, in an internal memo, recommended the extension of the deadline from December 27 to January 29 next year.

This is to give bidders for the P170.6 billion rehabilitation project more time to prepare their pitches, it said.

In separate interviews, Metro Manila development committee chairman Rep. Rolando Valeriano, OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon all agreed for the extension of the deadline and emphasized the importance of considering ADB’s recommendation.

“Sa ganito pong mga proyekto bihasa ang ADB. Sana mapakinggan ang opinyon nila na mapalawig ang deadline. Mas mainam ito at mas makakapili ang DOTr ng pinakakwalipikado gumawa ng proyekto dahil mas marami pa ang makakasali sa bid at mas makakapaghanda sila. Malaking halaga ang nakataya, due diligence is a must,” Valeriano said in a press release.

(ADB is well versed in projects like this. I hope their opinion will be heard to extend the deadline. It is better and the DOTr can choose the most qualified to do the project because more people can participate in the bid and they can prepare better. A lot of money is at stake, due diligence is a must.)

Meanwhile, Magsino stressed that the one-month extension will “allow the government to choose from more reputable companies and secure the most cost-effective agreement.”

READ: ADB backs extension of Naia bidding deadline

“The only thing we want to ensure in whatever decision the government will make is that the people will not be shortchanged; the option we will take must vastly improve the services of NAIA, solve capacity issues, upgrade the technology infrastructure, and ensure steady and reliable operation for the benefit of air passengers, especially our OFWs,” she added.

READ: Naia rehab stirs curiosity of Incheon airport developer

Gadon also backed up the proposed extension, noting that it would give potential proponents more time to come up with realistic bid terms.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: Naia bidding: The more the merrier

He also acknowledged the complexity of the rehabilitation project, noting that unforeseen issues might arise during the construction and renovation work.

Below is the list of eight companies that bought bidding documents for the infrastructure project:

• Limak Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
• Asian Airport Consortium
• Cengiz Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
• GMR Airports International
• Manila International Airport Consortium
• San Miguel Holdings Corp.
• Spark 888 Managemen
• Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC)

The project will include rehabilitation of passenger terminals and airside facilities, provision of facilities enabling intermodal transfer at the airport, and construction of connection from Naia Terminal 3 to Metro Manila Subway.