Qualifiers for Mactan-Cebu airport bid known by Monday

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is making progress with yet another public-private partnership (PPP) project with the opening of qualification documents for the P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport set next Monday.

This means business groups eligible to vie for the expansion and operation of Cebu’s main air terminal—which is currently operating beyond normal capacity amid the government’s efforts to ramp up tourist arrivals—will be known on Monday, the DOTC said in a statement.

The DOTC said a total of 12 companies have purchased invitation documents for the Mactan-Cebu airport, the third PPP to be rolled out by transportation department.

Competition is expected to be stiff as several business tycoons have already announced strategic alliances with one another to bag the project.

Among those reportedly joining are Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. in partnership with Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings Inc.; Ayala Corp. with Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.; Megawide Construction Corp. with GMR Infrastructucre Ltd. of India; and San Miguel Corp. with taipan Lucio Tan. Other groups seen bidding include Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corp.

“We are optimistic that the [Mactan-Cebu International Airport] Project will generate the same level of interest from major local and international companies as what we saw from the AFCS Project,” the DOTC said, referring to the Automatic Fare Collection System for Metro Manila’s mass railway systems.

The DOTC added that based on its requirements, Philippine companies will have to bring in established foreign operators given what it described as the lack of local expertise in this area.

“This will benefit our domestic air transport industry, as technology transfer will give local players the opportunity to learn from more advanced and more experienced airport operators,” the DOTC said.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport project calls for the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building with a capacity of about 8 million passengers per year.