Discussions are now underway between the government and the potential proponents for the PHP102-billion rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

During a virtual pre-State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) briefing Wednesday, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he has received a copy of the letter from the NAIA consortium that explains its current situation and lack of ability to push through with the program due to the impact of the pandemic.

“I understand that DOTr (Department of Transportation) under Secretary (Arthur) Tugade as well as (Bases Conversion and Development Authority President) Vince Dizon, who heads the infrastructure projects, are in conversation with two more potential proponents of the NAIA project,” he said.

Dominguez, however, did not identify these two new proponents.

On Tuesday, members of the NAIA consortium, composed of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Corporation, Alliance Global Group Inc., and Asia Emerging Dragon Corp, said the government has declined the proposed changes on the agreement aimed at ensuring the project’s bankability.

Despite this setback, Dominguez is confident that the project will push through given that two new possible implementors have come forward to discuss the project with the government.

“We are not worried because two other proponents are willing to step up the plate here,” he said.

Dominguez said the potential proponents “are willing to get into agreement with the government which are very similar to the terms of agreements between the project proponents in the Clark Airport and the BCDA.”

The NAIA rehabilitation and redevelopment project entails the improvement and expansion of the current terminals to increase its capacity to 65 million passengers within four years, as well as the development of additional runways, taxiways, passenger terminals and relative infrastructure. (PNA)