Philippines apex court upholds Cebu airport project award to GMR

The Philippines Supreme Court has upheld the award of Mactan-Cebu International airport (MCIA) expansion project to a consortium led by GMR Infrastructure, the company said on Tuesday.

The project involves the expansion of passenger terminals at Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the second largest airport in the Philippines.

It was awarded to GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Construction Corporation consortium by the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines government.

"We welcome the Supreme Court judgment. It clears any confusion or misconception about the process of airport expansion and modernisation. This decision reinforces our position as a credible and financially strong airport operator," said GMR Infrastructure in a statement here.

Citing lack of merit on the petitions filed by a senator and Business for Progress Movement, the Philippines Supreme Court said: "There being no violation of any law, regulation or the bidding rules, nor any arbitrariness or unfairness committed by public respondents, the presumption of regularity of the bidding for the MCIA Project must stand."

The decision would also boost the confidence of foreign investors in the PPP programme of the government of Philippines and came at an opportune time when the five regional airports were being bid out, in which GMR was also participating, the company said.