Pangilinan-led MPIC pulls out of NAIA rehab bid

Diversified conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) has pulled out of the consortium seeking to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a regulatory filing, the Pangilinan-led company said it has already informed other members of the NAIA Consortium of its plan to withdraw from the group.

"(We) have since advised our consortium partners of our intent to withdraw from this project," the disclosure read.

MPIC, along with six other companies—Aboitiz InfrasCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc.—received original proponent status (OPS) for the project in September 2018.

Phase one of the project entails improving and expanding the terminals to increase the airport’s capacity to 65 million passengers, expected to be completed in 48 months.

The second phase involves the development of an additional runway, taxiways, passenger terminals, and associated support infrastructure.

Just last month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said two issues still have to be clarified before the project could proceed: the planned bus rapid transit (BRT), and the supposed layoffs of personnel of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News