San Miguel Holdings Corp (SMHC) is expected to start construction of its proposed airport complex in Bulacan late this year after no bidders challenged the proposal, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
With no rival offers found during the opening of bids on July 31, DOTr said it will immediately issue a notice of award to SMHC following the recommendation of its technical working group (TWG). The notice to proceed, meanwhile, is expected to be given in the first week of September.
“They (SMHC) have 20 days to comply with our conditions. We can issue the Notice of Award within five days based on the recommendation of the TWG. The Secretary wants to start the ground-breaking of the construction by the last quarter of this year,” said Giovanni Lopez, bids and awards committee chairperson and assistant secretary for procurement and project implementation.
Being an unsolicited proposal, SMHC’s proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan had to undergo a Swiss challenge so that other parties could challenge the proposal.
The proposal involves a 50-year concession period and a total project cost of P735.63 billion under a build-operate-transfer arrangement.
DOTr said SMHC is proposing a new international gateway with air passenger terminal facilities having an ultimate design capacity of 100 million passengers. The new airport will also have airside facilities with an ultimate configuration of four parallel runways supported by associated airside facilities; aviation-related equipment and support facilities; and an 8-kilometer airport toll road linking the air hub to the North Luzon Expressway.
SMHC’s proposed airport complex is seen to eventually replace the Philippines’ congested main air hub Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
DOTr said NMIA is expected to be operational within four to six years after the start of construction.
