The government plans to turn over the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the private sector.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Rene K. Limcaoco said the agency is preparing to take on a transaction advisor for the privatization of the NAIA.

"We are working with the PPP Center right now," Limcaoco said, referring to the agency in charge of public-private partnership projects.

Besides O&M, the NAIA privatization may include the augmentation of the air-side and land-side facilities to accommodate the expected rise in passenger traffic, he said.

Limcaoco did not provide a time frame for the planned privatization of NAIA.

A recent study done by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) shows that NAIA would hit over capacity in 2015, and unable to cater to the increasing passenger demand.

By 2015, NAIA will handle 37.78 million passengers, of which 16.46 million would be international passengers and 21.31 million domestic.

By 2040, passenger traffic would reach 101.49 million.

At end-2012, NAIA accommodated 31.88 million, exceeding the 30 million passengers per year capacity of the terminal. Its maximum handling capacity stands at 35 million passengers per year.

The JICA study has proposed building a new international gateway that would require a total investment of P435.93 billion.

The new international airport, which the JICA study recommended at Sangley Point in Cavite, is capable of accommodating 55 million passengers per year and 400,000 aircraft movements.

The proposed airport is projected to be operational by 2025.

The DOTC earlier said it will start tendering six airports in the fourth quarter of the year under the government's PPP program as follows:

- O&M of the New Bohol Airport (P11.71 billion)
- O&M of Puerto Princesa Airport (P10.27 billion)
- O&M of Davao Airport (P5.88 billion)
- O&M of Iloilo Airport (P4.03 billion)
- O&M of Bacolod Airport (P3.16 billion)
- O&M of Laguindingan Airport (P2.26 billion)

The DOTC said these airport may be auctioned off in bundles to attract bidders.

Source