MPIC eyes airport business as 'next new industry'

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is keen on entering the aviation industry by working with the government on building new airports in the country.

"For Metro Pacific we want airports to be our next new industry – vertical as we call," Karim Garcia, MPIC vice president for business development, told reporters on the sidelines of the Euromoney Philippines Investment Forum in Taguig City on Tuesday.

"'Cause right now we're into roads, rail, water, power, and we want to be in airports for sure," he added.

MPIC's subsidiaries include Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Maynilad Water Holding Company Inc., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., MetroPac Water Investments Corporation., Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc., MPIC-JGS Airport Holdings Inc., Porrovia Corporation, Fragrant Cedar Holdings Inc., Neo Oracle Holdings Inc. Metro Global Green Waste Inc., and MetroPac Logistics Company Inc.

"We are always interested in improving the infra of this country," Garcia said, noting that the company will intends to support government direction – whether it will continue to focus on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as the country's main gateway, or create new airports.

"I think what we need from this government is sort of a clear direction of what they want to do in terms of our international gateway," he said.

If the government decides to focus on improving NAIA, Garcia said MPIC will be ready to help.

"There are ways to improve NAIA ... Takes political will, but there are ways to improve it," he said.

If the government takes on the task of building new airports, MPCI will be willing to work with the administration.

"If their direction is to take a greenfield option ... these are all issues that we'd be more than happy to help advice our government on," he said. — VDS, GMA News