MANILA — Thirty companies, including European airport operators, have so far manifested serious interest in bagging the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the passenger terminals of Clark International Airport.
As of posting time, several local and foreign companies have already bought bid documents from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) including Metro Pacific Investment Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp., Megawide-GMR Consortium, Prime Assets Venture and Central Luzon Infrastructure Consultancy, Inc., Paris-based Groupe ADP and India-based GVK Airport Developers Ltd.
Two European airport operators, Zurich Airport of Switzerland and AviAlliance of Germany, also attended pre-bid conferences but have yet to secure bid documents.
The BCDA project also attracted interest from companies such as Sojitz Philippines Corp., Deloitte, VCorp Holdings, Udenna Corporation, Malaysia Airports, GMR, Ayesa Engineering, Clarkfield Aviation Services, Mitsubishi Corporation, Macquarie, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Halder and Associates, PAL Express, Samsung, Aboitiz Infra Capital, PSI Air, Air Asia, Evercon Builders, Miescor Logistics Incorporated, and Century Properties.
During the pre-bid conference Monday, BCDA Assistant Vice President for Business Development Arrey Perez said the Clark airport O&M concession includes the management and operations of the airport’s existing passenger terminal and the New Terminal Building.
The winning bidder shall also develop commercial activities and management of airside locator lease and rental contracts including air cargo, in-flight catering, and hangars and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
The BCDA requires the bidders to be involved in O&M of an international airport for at least three years with an annual passenger throughput of at least 8 million passengers.
The airports should also be in the top 20 airports ranked by Skytrax — Singapore Changi, Incheon, Tokyo Haneda, Hong Kong, Doha Hamad, Munich, Centrair Nagoya, London Heathrow, Zurich, Frankfurt, Tokyo Narita, Amsterdam, Kansai, Vancouver, Taiwan Taoyuan, Helsinki, Vienna, Shanghai Hongqiao, Copenhagen, and Sydney.
The bidder shall also meet the minimum net worth of PHP5 billion as of 2017. If the bidder will be a consortium, the lead company shall meet the PHP5-billion minimum net worth.
The company must have the capability of raising loans of at least PHP10 billion.
The BCDA restricts companies with stake in any facility operation within the main island of Luzon, or those which have direct or indirect equity interest in a concession of an international airport in the country to participate in the bidding.
On the sidelines of the event, BCDA Senior Vice President for Business Development and Operations Joshua Bingcang said the agency will be conducting one-on-one meetings with interested bidders, and will also consider adjustments on the qualification criteria for the project.
BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon mentioned that the government targets to award the contract for the O&M of Clark airport by August 30.
Currently, the airport accommodates some 332 domestic flights and 158 international flights a week. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)
