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MANILA, Philippines – Asia's Emerging Dragon Corporation (AEDC)– a firm built by the taipans during the term of then-President Fidel V. Ramos – will participate in the auction of the P74.56-billion ($1.66-billion) deal to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
It was in 1993 when the some of the country's top businessmen – John Gokongwei, Andrew Gotianun, Henry Sy Sr, Lucio Tan, George Ty, and Alfonso Yuchengco – formed AEDC to submit an unsolicited proposal for the construction of a third terminal at NAIA.
AEDC then battled with the Philippine International Air Transport Corporation (PIATCO) for years for control of the project.
The NAIA Terminal 3 deal then started in 1997, with PIATCO partnering with German company Fraport.
Renewed interest
Today, AEDC has renewed its interest in redeveloping the airport by participating in the NAIA public-private partnership (PPP) project.
"We are participating in the bidding because we firmly believe in the growth potential of our country's premier airport, given our past experience of pushing for Philippine aviation development," AEDC president Salvador Mison said in a statement.
AEDC said its foreign partner is expected to provide the technical expertise in its long-term proposal.
Aside from AEDC, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, and Ayala Corporation have expressed interest in bidding for the project, too.
The winning concessionaire will improve all existing NAIA terminals, covering both landside and airside (except air traffic services), to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved in September the NAIA redevelopment project to upgrade the country's main gateway.
Other than the NAIA PPP, the government is also bidding out the upgrade of 5 regional airports: the Bacolod-Silay, Iloilo, Davao, Laguindingan, and New Bohol airports. – Rappler.com
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