Megawide Calls to Restore Original Proponent Status for NAIA Rehabilitation

MANILA – The Philippine-Indian consortium bidding to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is appealing the revocation of its original proponent (OPS) status, according to a document seen Monday by ABS-CBN News.

Megawide-GMR has filed an appeal with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to reconsider the downfall of its OPS, saying the agency made its decision without considering the most recent documents the consortium submitted to support its claim that it can fund the rehabilitation of NAIA. draft.

An OPS gives the bidder an advantage over its rivals, as it gives the company a first stake in a project, and allows it to match the terms and costs of its competitors’ bids and thus secure the bid.

MIAA General Ed Monreal told lawmakers last Thursday that they decided to revoke Megawide’s OPS based on a Nov. 19 letter from the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that said the company did not have enough capital to finance. the project under the law.

The DOF and NEDA noted that Megawide had a capitalization of P18 billion, but that P32.3 billion in capital was required for the entire NAIA project based on the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) law.

In its Motion for Reconsideration, Megawide said the company submitted new documents to the MIAA on November 20 and December 1 explaining how its capital position met the requirements of the BOT law.

Megawide said it had a registered capital of P19.58 billion, with P1.58 billion as a reserved deposit, while its Indian partner GMR had P13.05 billion in capital, which together was enough to satisfy project requirements. under the bot. law.

“As a result, the decision must be reconsidered in light of new and material information that addresses the same issue raised that prompted MIAA’s decision,” Megawide said in a copy of the appeal heard by ABS-CBN News.

The company also said it was asking for “equal treatment” from the authorities.

“We respectfully note also that since the Government had negotiated with the previous proponents, also known as the ‘Super Consortium’, for 2 years, it would be in accordance with good practice and fair play that we are also awarded a reasonable price. deadline to negotiate with the Government and present all the necessary documents to demonstrate our capabilities, “said the company in its letter to the MIAA.

He also insisted that he was fully capable of keeping the financing requirements of the NAIA’s 109 billion peso rehabilitation project in phases.

Megawide’s OPS revocation was announced the same day the company unveiled its redesign plan for NAIA.

San Miguel Corp, which is building a rival airport project in Bulacán province, said it was willing to operate and maintain NAIA, but would not rehabilitate it.