Aboitiz InfraCapital ready to talk airports, national ID once ECQ lifted

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. on Wednesday said it will resume discussions with the government for several projects, including airport bids, once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.

In a statement, Aboitiz InfraCapital said it still keen on discussing public-private partnership (PPP) projects such as its planned takeover of airports like the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Laguindingan Airport, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"We remain keen on the airport projects as we believe that these are vital in reviving the economy," Aboitiz InfraCapital president and chief executive officer Cosette Canilao said.

The company last year tapped Irish airport operator daa International — the global airport operations management subsidiary of Ireland's Dublin Airport Authority — to assist in the bid to upgrade, expansion, op, rations and maintenance of the Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan airports.

Aboitiz InfraCapital is also part of the NAIA Consortium, along with AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., and JG Summit Holdings Inc.

The group, which previously included Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC),  received the original proponent status to rehabilitate NAIA, Manila's main gateway, in September 2018.

In the same statement, Aboitiz InfraCapital said it is also open to discussing its unsolicited proposal along with Ayala Group and Unisys for the planned national identification card system.

"We believe in the project and would be happy to discuss with the government should they consider our proposal," said Canilao.

Metro Manila, along with several "high-risk areas," has been on lockdown since March 17, with the ECQ already having been extended several times to last until May 31. —LDF, GMA News