SMC to bid for P74.56-B NAIA redevelopment project

Listed conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Thursday confirmed that it will bid for the P74.56-billion redevelopment project of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"(W)e advise that the Company shall participate in the bidding for the P74.56-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) redevelopment, operation, and maintenance project, and in all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects to support the Government, as confirmed by Mr. Ramon S. Ang, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company," it said in a filing on the local bourse.

Under the PPP project, the private partner will improve, upgrade, and enhance the operational efficiencies of all existing terminals of the NAIA covering both landside and airside, except air traffic services.

The project is seen to improve the country's main gateway airport to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

In a separate filing, Ayala Corp. said that it is currently looking into the possibility of bidding for the project.

For its part, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) had already said it is keen on entering the aviation industry and supportive of government efforts to improve NAIA.

"There are ways to improve NAIA... Takes political will, but there are ways to improve it," Karim Garcia, MPIC vice president for business development, said earlier this month. — VVP, GMA News