The Department of Transportation said it is set to grant original proponent status to two unsolicited proposals to develop, operate and manage airports in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“The board resolution for the granting of an OPS to unsolicited proposals for both Kalibo and Davao International Airports is now being circulated to members of the CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] board for signature and concurrence. Anytime we secure the one signature, we will be ready to grant the OPS both to the Davao and Kalibo proponents,” the DOTr said in a statement.
“DOTr and CAAP have no technical objections on the unsolicited proposals. They were both presented to the CAAP board for the grant of the original proponent status,” it said.
Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy earlier submitted a new unsolicited proposal to develop and maintain the Davao International Airport for P49 billion.
The agency earlier rejected the offer of Chelsea to operate, maintain and expand the Davao International Airport and New Bohol International Airport following a policy change.
Mega 7 Consortium, on its part, submitted an unsolicited bid to develop and operate the Kalibo International Airport for P12 billion.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the infrastructure unit of the Aboitiz Group, earlier obtained an original proponent status to operate and maintain the future development and expansions 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 a high standard 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.