The Department of Transportation, through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, granted the original proponent status to Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. for the development, 30-year operation and maintenance of Davao International Airport worth P49 billion.
Under its unsolicited proposal, Chelsea also offered a new technology to enhance passenger experience and capture data to deliver efficient operations.
As the original proponent, Chelsea will be given the opportunity to match any competing bid by other companies for the development and operation of Davao airport under the subsequent Swiss Challenge.
Meanwhile, the CAAP also declared Mega 7 Construction as the original proponent for the operation, maintenance and upgrade of facilities and systems in the Kalibo International Airport.
Chelsea Logistics submitted a P49-billion unsolicited proposal to the DOTr on May 28, 2018, while Mega 7 Construction Corp. sent a P3.8-billion offer on Aug. 6, 2018.
The DOTr and CAAP had no objections on the unsolicited proposals, subject to legal, technical and financial conditions.
Both proposals will also include the expansion of passenger terminal buildings and a concession period for 30 years.
The unsolicited proposals will undergo Swiss challenge. This means other groups may submit counterproposals, while both companies have the option to match such bids.
The Davao and Kalibo International airports are among DOTr’s high-priority infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
The Duterte administration is keen on developing new international and regional airports to enhance connectivity and mobility and address congestion in premiere gateways.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the infrastructure unit of the Aboitiz Group, earlier obtained an original proponent status to operate and maintain the future development and expansion of the New Bohol International Airport.
The new airport on Panglao Island aims to replace the current airport in Tagbilaran City, which is currently serving under one million passengers a year. With a much larger capacity, the New Bohol International Airport will be a catalyst in unlocking the tourism potential of Bohol and the rest of the region.
The OPS grant is a crucial step toward AIC’s partnership with the government to develop world-class infrastructure and establish high standards for regional airport operation.
The government also granted OPS to Naia Consortium for the rehabilitation, upgrade, expansion, operation and maintenance of Ninoy Aquino International Airport for 15 years.
The P102-billion proposal involves expanding and interconnecting the existing terminals of Naia, upgrading airside facilities, developing commercial facilities to increase airline and airpot efficiencies, enhancing passenger comfort and experience and elevating the status of Naia as the country’s premier international gateway.
The project aims to increase capacity up to 100 million passengers per year from about 40 million passengers last year.
The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.