AEDC, Manila Hotel Group told to submit formal bid for NAIA-3

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila has asked both Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. (AEDC) and the Manila Hotel Group to submit their respective formal proposals for the operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 for proper evaluation by the five-man task force created by President Arroyo to speed up the opening of the mothballed airport facility.

In an interview with The STAR, Favila said he has asked the AEDC and the Manila Hotel Group to submit their formal offers for the operation of NAIA-3. "There has been a lot of press releases, but we have not read a formal proposal, so I have asked them to submit one so we can evaluate it properly."

Favila clarified that it would be the five-man committee composed of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Justice Undersecretary Merceditas Gutierrez, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and himself who would evaluate the offers and decide on how to open the NAIA-3 facilities as soon as possible.

Favila admitted, though, that a December opening of the new airport might not be possible.

"We have not set a date for the opening but we want it as soon as possible," Favila said.

The government, however, "remains focused on the expropriation case and on finishing work on the terminal," he pointed out.

AEDC is asserting its right to take over the airport following the Supreme Court ruling nullifying the contract with Philippine International Airport Terminal Co. (Piatco).

AEDC was the original proponent of the airport project but was forced to withdraw following the controversial deal reached with Piatco during the Ramos administration.

The Manila Hotel Group only recently joined the fray after another controversial deal struck with German’s Fraport Group, which had a 40-percent stake in Piatco.

The Manila Hotel-Fraport deal remains unclear since European sources claim that Fraport has not been paid yet by the Manila Hotel Group for its stake in Piatco.

Furthermore, sources pointed out that the Manila Hotel Group merely bought Fraport’s share in Piatco which does not entitle it to take over NAIA-3 since the SC had already ruled that the deal was invalid.

The business sector is clamoring for the opening of the new airport since its continued closure projects a negative signal to foreign investors.