The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Monday it will hold the Swiss Challenge for the two regional airports before the end of 2024.
“The unsolicited proposals for Laguindingan International Airport and Bohol-Panglao International Airport are undergoing the Swiss challenge,” Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines-San Miguel Corp. Aviation Forum in Makati City.
Swiss Challenge is a form of procurement, usually required in an unsolicited project, where other parties are given an opportunity to challenge the bid of the original proponent.
Bautista said the deadline for submission of challenge bids for the Laguindingan PPP project is Sept. 13, while the deadline for Bohol-Panglao is Nov. 11.
The agency earlier said at least two challengers paid a non-refundable participation fee of P250,000 or $4,500 for the Laguindingan Airport Swiss Challenge.
Aboitiz InfaCapital Inc. earlier secured an original proponent status (OPS) from the Duterte administration on unsolicited proposals for the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport and the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
Meanwhile, Bautista said the DOTr was closely working with the World Bank-International Finance Corp. and the Asian Development Bank for the launch of additional PPP projects for 2025.
These include airports in Basco, Busuanga, Cauayan, Daraga in Bicol and Tuguegarao in Luzon and Bacolod, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Catarman, Ormoc and Siquijor in the Visayas.
The DOTr is also looking at bidding out airports in Camiguin, Davao, General Santos and Surigao in Mindanao.
“ADB is helping us evaluate how to proceed in upgrading, expanding or constructing the airports in Busuanga, Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Basco, Camiguin, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Catarman, Ormoc and Surigao,” Bautista said.
“Furthermore, apart from Dumaguete, other greenfield airports being pursued include the airports in Masbate, Naga, Pangasinan, Siargao and Zamboanga,” he said.
