Bill approved that facilitates airport construction projects.
Authored by the deputy leader of the PMDB in the Chamber of Deputies, Representative Lúcio Vieira Lima, Provisional Measure 600/12 authorizes federal banks to implement reforms to the regional aviation expansion program; the measure must be voted on by the Senate by June 3rd, when it expires.
Home - The Plenary approved on Tuesday Provisional Measure 600/12, which allows the use of resources from the National Civil Aviation Fund (Fnac) for the renovation of public airports. At the discretion of the Civil Aviation Secretariat (SAC), the execution may be direct through federal banks or their subsidiaries, using the rules of the Differentiated Contracting Regime (RDC). Originally, the works would be the responsibility of Banco do Brasil.
The RDC simplifies the rules of the Bidding Law (Law 8.666/93): it eliminates deadlines and allows for integrated contracting, in which a single company is responsible for the entire execution of the work, from design to finishing. Today, each stage requires a separate bidding process.
The provisional measure was approved in the form of the report from the joint committee, authored by Representative Lucio Vieira Lima (PMDB-BA). The measure must be voted on by the Senate by June 3rd, when it expires.
Investments
According to the government, the resources of the National Civil Aviation Fund will also take on a financial nature to enable transfers to banks, which will use them for projects selected by the Civil Aviation Secretariat, mainly in 270 regional airports in the first phase. The bank's remuneration will be set by the secretariat and the Ministry of Finance.
The Executive branch expects to implement investments of R$ 7,3 billion included in the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) for public airports.
The Northeast (R$ 2,1 billion in 64 airports), North (R$ 1,7 billion in 67 airports) and Southeast (R$ 1,6 billion in 65 airports) regions are the most benefited.
Airport assistance
In the legislation creating the National Civil Aviation Fund (Fnac), the Provisional Measure removes the requirement to consider state aviation plans when selecting airports included in the Federal Airport Assistance Program (Profaa).
Regarding this sector, the rapporteur included permission for the Executive Branch to define a simplified bidding procedure for Infraero and its subsidiaries, similar to what has already occurred with Petrobras. These rules would also apply to permits and concessions for the use of airport areas, facilities, and equipment.
Controversy
The use of the RDC (Differentiated Contracting Regime) for the reform of regional airports caused controversy in the Plenary. The rapporteur of the Provisional Measure, Lucio Vieira Lima, defended the proposal. According to him, the simplified bidding process will make Infraero (the Brazilian airport infrastructure company) competitive. "We have a program for 270 regional airports, so that the population is not less than 100 kilometers from an airport," he explained.
Congressman Arnaldo Jardim (PPS-SP) criticized the measure. According to him, simplifying Infraero's purchasing procedures is like putting "the fox in charge of the henhouse." "Infraero hasn't been providing services to the country; we don't need to make life easier for Infraero, we need to liquidate it," he said.