Three groups qualify to bid for the P170.6-billion Naia contract

The bidders for the privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been trimmed down from four to three after the Asian Airport Consortium, led by Asian Infrastructure and Management Corp, failed to pass the technical evaluation of the bid. (Screengrab from DOTr Facebook live)

MANILA, Philippines —The Asian Airport Consortium, the group of retail tycoon Lucio Co, has been disqualified from the bidding for the P170.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) contract, leaving the three other consortia in the race, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Thursday.

According to the DOTr, the remaining bidders for the P170.6-billion Naia rehabilitation, operation and maintenance contract are the SMC SAP & Co. Consortium, GMR Airports Consortium, and Manila International Airport Consortium.

The Asian Airport Consortium was trimmed from the list after the initial screening process undertaken by the Pre-qualifications, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC).

READ: P170.6-B Naia rehab project attracts 4 bidders

“Of the three bidders, the SMC-SAC Consortium submitted the highest bid amount, offering to share 82.16% of future gross revenues, excluding Passenger Service Charges, with the government. This is in addition to the fixed upfront fee of P 30 billion and annual fee of P 2 billion, both payable to the government,” the DOTr said in a statement.

Meanwhile, GMR Airports Consortium and Manila International Airport Consortium submitted bid amounts of 33.30 percent and 25.91 percent, respectively.

“Just for the next steps, the PBAC  will proceed to evaluate the financial proposals [of the bidders],” said Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan during the opening of the financial proposals for the Naia – Public-Private Partnership Project.

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

The DOTr aims to award the contract by February 15.