The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will ask the private sector to participate anew in the bidding for the operation and maintenance of several regional airports in the country.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said DOTr will review the bidding through public-private partnership (PPP) of regional airport projects, which include the Panglao Bohol International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Davao International Airport and Kalibo airport, among others.
This in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his recent State of the Nation Address that PPP should continue, said Bautista.
“We will invite the private sector to offer and support our PPP projects,” he said.
Other airports that will likely be considered are those in Bacolod-Silay, Laguindigan, Busuanga and Puerto Princesa.
To recall, the previous administration received several unsolicited proposals for the expansion, operation and maintenance of regional airports but it was not able to complete the award of the projects to the private sector.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group, submitted its unsolicited proposal for the New Bohol International Airport, while Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. submitted its offer to modernize the Davao International Airport.
Both unsolicited proposals underwent National Economic and Development Authority review during the previous administration.
In addition, Prime Asset Ventures Inc. of the Villar group submitted its proposal for the Puerto Princesa airport and Iloilo International Airport; Filipino-Chinese firm Mega7 Construction Corp., which is led by a certain Andrew Ngui, for the operation and maintenance and upgrade of the Kalibo International Airport; Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. for the Siargao airport in Surigao del Norte; and Udenna Infrastructure Corp. for the Bacolod-Silay airport.
Earlier, Bautista said DOTr will also pursue the rebidding of the rehabilitation and expansion of the country’s main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, through PPP.
