The Transportation Department said it is reviewing the P108.2-billion regional airports project under the previous administration’s public-private partnership program.
“As the new team, we are just getting up to speed with the review of projects,” said Transportation Undersecretary for aviation and airports Roberto Lim.
“But the overall goal is to provide the infrastructure that will allow the Philippines to absorb more traffic, support this successful tourism program of the Philippines,” Lim said over the weekend.
The Transportation Department under the Aquino administration earlier deferred the bid submission date as the agency needed to get clearances and approvals from the concerned agencies.
The agency pre-qualified Maya Consortium led by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippine Airports Consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp.-IIAC Airport Consortium, GMR-Megawide Consortium and Filinvest-JATCO-Sojitz Consortium for the project.
Aboitiz Equity teamed up with Vinci Airports of France to form Maya Consortium, while San Miguel Holdings Corp. tapped Incheon International Airport Corp. to create SMHC-IIAC Airport Corp.
Metro Pacific teamed up with Aeroports de Paris Management SA, while Filinvest tapped Japan Airport Terminal Corp. and Sojitz Corp.
The five provincial airports in the PPP bundle are the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay International Airport and the P30.4-billion Iloilo International Airport under package 1, and the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and P40.57-billion Davao International Airport under package 2.
The winning concessionaires for each airport bundle will handle the operation and maintenance of the airports for 30 years and expand the facilities. Aside from the operation and maintenance, the contract will require the winner to expand the terminal, apron, airside and landside facilities to address future demand.
The improvements are needed to enhance passenger safety and convenience and ensure more efficient airport operations.
GMR-Megawide earlier won the contract to develop and operate the P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Mactan Airport project will include the construction of a new passenger terminal and renovation of the existing one, as well as the provision of new commercial facilities. This would increase passenger capacity to 12.5 million a year.
The project will be developed under a 25-year concession agreement for the operation of both terminals and commercial outlets. Project completion is expected in 2018.