2 big consortia vying for Clark Airport O&M

Two big consortia – X-Droid and North Luzon Airport – submitted bids (out of the 10 that bought bid documents) yesterday for the operation and maintenance (O & M) of Clark International Airport Airport’s existing passenger terminal, and the new terminal building that will be operational by 2020

The X-Droid Consortium members are Angkasa Pura II, Globalport 900, Mazy’s Capital, and Desco Inc.

Consortium member Angkasa Pura (Sanskrit for Sky City) is a state enterprise of the Indonesian government under the Department of Transport that are responsible for the management of airports in Indonesia. Globalport 900 is a Filipino firm owned by businessman Michael Romero. Mazy’s Capital Inc. is the investment arm of the Zest-O Corporation, owned by tycoon Alfredo Yao. Desco Inc. is an energy service company which caters to the needs of geothermal, oil and gas projects.

On the other hand, the North Luzon Airport Consortium members are Filinvest Development Corporation, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc. (PAGSS), and Changi Airport Philippines Pte. Ltd.

Consortium member JG Summit Holdings Inc. owns Cebu Pacific Air, the country’s largest airline of the Gokongwei Group. PAGSS is engaged in Ground Handling Services located at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Changi Airport Philippines is a local unit of Singapore’s Changi Airport International. Filinvest Development Corp. is a local conglomerate owned by the Gotianun Group.

Both groups submitted two sets of financial and technical documents.

After checking the completeness of eligibility documents of both bidders, the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the Department of Transportation will then thoroughly evaluate the eligibility documents submitted.

BCDA Senior Vice-President Joshua Bingcang said the second stage of the bidding is the opening of technical and financial proposal for those who will pass the pre-qualification stage.

The committee is expected to notify in one week’s time the prequalified bidders, said Bingcang. The O&M contract is targeted to be awarded by December 2018.

Upon award, the O&M Concessionaire will finance, design and complete all “fitout” for the existing and new passenger terminals. A consortium member affiliated with an airline is required no more than 33 percent share in the consortium.

The committee has eased a couple of requirements like the Skytrax rating for an airport operator consortium member to be in the top 50 from 20 to encourage more participants.

The committee has also reduced the equity stake of the airport concessionaire consortium member to 15 percent from 20 percent.

The Clark International Airport is set to be the next premier gateway to Asia and will open in the first half of 2020. The airport’s new terminal building is the first of the Duterte administration’s hybrid infrastructure projects, and complements other high-impact legacy projects in Central Luzon such as New Clark City and the Subic-Clark Railway.

According to the Public Private Partnership Center the airport project has a P5.61 billion indicative cost.