Gov't wants two concerns resolved before NAIA rehab plan can proceed

The NAIA Consortium must address two government concerns before the P102-billion rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport can proceed.

In a press conference in Pasay City, Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Ruben Reinoso, Jr. said the consortium submitted a new proposal last week, but two issues still have to be clarified.

According to Reinoso, the concerns of the government are the planned bus rapid transit (BRT) and the supposed layoffs of personnel of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

"Ang prino-propose nila ngayon is a BRT. Ang MIAA ay may reservation dahil baka may issue ng security on the tarmac," he said.

"The other one is the issue dun sa empleyado ng Manila International Airport Authority. Ang usapan noong nag-submit sila walang ma-le-layoff, lahat ma-absorb," added Reynoso.

According to the transport official, proposals indicate that employees of the MIAA will be absorbed for only 180 days.

"Hindi kasama sa usapan na 180 days lang. Kailangan linawin nila lahat 'yun. Lahat mangyayari sa negotiation," he said.

The NAIA Consortium — composed of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. — received the original proponent status (OPS) for the project in September 2018.

Phase one 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.

Moving forward, Reinoso said the negotiations will start once the schedules of both parties are in line.

"We just have to wait for the advice of Secretary [Vivencio] Dizon and the other side kung kailan available 'yung negotiating panel," he said. —KBK, GMA News