THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said that those who wish to have operations as the number of qualified bidders were trimmed to three from an initial four.

At the opening and preliminary evaluation of financial proposals for the P170.6-billion solicited NAIA Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, no less than the Department of Transportation’s Pre-qualification Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) had announced that they are determined to make it happen as only three bidders as compliant to the terms of reference of the project.

The DOTr identified the three compliant bidders as the Manila International Airport Consortium, GMR Airports Consortium, and SMC-SAP & Company Consortium. 

They were picked following the evaluation of their technical proposals submitted last month.

Meanwhile, the Lucio Co-led Asian Airport Consortium was declared as out fo the race.

It will be recalled that in December, the DOTr had said that some four consortia had given their bid documents for the NAIA PPP project.

DOTr Undersecretary Roberto Lim, Asian Airport Consortium noted that they were “determined as not complying.”

“Thus, only three bidders proceed to the next stage of having their financial proposal opened by PBAC,” Lim said.

DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan said a detailed financial evaluation of the proposals of the three qualified bidders will follow following the opening of the bids.

The DOTr is targeting to announce the results of the financial evaluation on February 14, 2024, meaning the winning bidder will already be determined and the issuance of the notice of award to the winner will proceed the following day.