BIZ BUZZ: Now showing: New ‘airportserye’

A new “airportserye” season is unfolding and it looks like another exciting production.

We’re referring to the P170-billion operations and maintenance deal for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which has four private sector groups vying for control of the country’s busiest gateway.

The airport auction is entering the final stage of evaluation and this is where things get spicy because there’s now talk of groups seeking the disqualification of SMC Sap. & Co. Consortium.

Biz Buzz learned that some bidders plan to ask the bids and awards committee to look closer into SMC SAP’s use of alleged shell entities that control the consortium. We’re told these had been established to minimize the participation of billionaire Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Corp. (SMC), at least on paper.

This is important because the Naia project bidding terms detail certain restrictions on companies that own nearby airport projects to remove any conflict of interest. The nearby airport projects listed were Clark International Airport (Pampanga), Sangley Point International Airport and New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, which is being developed by SMC.

Under the rules, such companies can own a maximum of 33 percent (we’re told this was raised from the initial 20-percent cap) in a consortium bidding for Naia.

The disqualification scare is coming to light amid rumors that SMC SAP Consortium has submitted a rather aggressive bid for the Naia project.

SMC also has a track record for bidding to win when we consider past privatization projects under the Aquino administration.

Whether this is a case of fearful rivals or something more is up to the bids and awards committee to sort out. As we say here, abangan!— Miguel R. Camus

More Kadiwa stores opening

Here’s good news for both Filipino farmers and consumers: More Kadiwa stores are coming our way to offer food items at lower prices.

“We will continue to provide Kadiwa services to farmers as may be needed,” said Jennilyn Dawayan, OIC of the Regional Executive Director-Cordillera Administrative Region.

Dawayan said a total of 163,189 kilograms of vegetables produced by 93 farmers from Mountain Province, Benguet and Ifugao will be sold via Kadiwa’s Veggie Connect and other market linkage programs of the Department of Agriculture until Jan. 26 this year.

Kadiwa Veggie Connect is a collaboration with the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives to help the DA monitor supply and sales of vegetables, particularly cabbage (including Chinese cabbage) whose prices have fallen due to a supply glut.

“We hope to replicate this program in other parts of the country and in other agricultural products, including poultry, livestock, fish and high value crops,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The DA has been pushing for the proliferation of the Kadiwa program to improve and expand market access for farmers and fishers.

Laurel, who assumed the top DA post last November, earlier stated intention to strengthen this initiative and bring back Kadiwa to the Food Terminal Inc. after two years.

Many are hoping that the Kadiwa concept, a brainchild of President Marcos’ late father and namesake, will succeed in retailing farm products at lower-than-market prices. — Jordeene B. Lagare