THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) public-private partnership (PPP) project received another global recognition from the IJGlobal Asia Pacific Awards 2015 held in Singapore last March 3.
MCIA won the IJGlobal “Best PPP Deal in Asia-Pacific Region” award. IJGlobal Infrastructure Journal and Project Finance Magazine recognizes excellence, achievement and innovation in energy and infrastructure finance, the PPP Center said in a statement posted in its website.
It also honors excellence of market participants by naming outstanding public and private sector players in the region. The awarding body is composed of industry leaders in the various areas of international infrastructure finance.
The government through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the P17.52-billion MCIA PPP contract to GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Consortium in April 4, 2014. The PPP contract involves the construction of a new world-class passenger terminal building and operations and maintenance of the existing airport.
DOTC turned over the airport’s operation and maintenance to the private partner in November 1, 2014. Last June 29, 2015, President Benigno Aquino III led the groundbreaking of the new MCIA terminal building. The construction started in July 2015 and a ceremonial pouring of concrete at the Mactan construction site was held in January.
Today, various upgrades and changes have been in place at the MCIA Terminal 1: washrooms have been renovated, a greener terminal building and self-service check-in kiosks have been installed. There are also new immigration, customs and quarantine counters and new seats and other significant improvements.
This is not the first global award for the MCIA PPP Project. Thomson Reuters’ Project Finance International (PFI) hailed the PPP project last December 2015. It was also voted by www.sleepinginairports.net as 18th best airport in Asia through a survey that ranks airports based on responses from travelers. (PR)