The bids and awards committee (BAC) of DOTC is in the process of finalising the mechanism to allow airline operators to bid for the PhP 17.5 billion Mactan–Cebu International Airport project. The move comes after some members of the government’s economic team urged DOTC to revisit its decision of preventing companies with airline interests from bidding for the project. The team argues that such a move would discourage foreign investors from participating in the project. DOTC had earlier disqualified the Gokongwei Group that owns Cebu Pacific Airlines and the Ramon Ang-led Philippine Airlines from bidding for the project. As a result, prospective bidders have been narrowed down to very few, including the partnership between the Ayala Corporation and the Cebu-based Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. However, if allowed by BAC, companies such as JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and San Miguel Corporation could take part in the bidding.
