THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said it received an unsolicited proposal from the private sector to handle the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Siargao Airport (Sayak Airport) in Surigao del Norte.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo told reporters last week Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc. (PAGSS) submitted a proposal to take over the O&M and development of the air gateway to Siargao Island.
“PAGSS (submitted an unsolicited proposal) recently, I think February. It’s still being evaluated,” he said.
Mr. Tamayo noted, however, that the proposal is currently up in the air as the government also intends to relocate the airport in Siargao from its current location in the northern part of the island to somewhere in the center.
“Let’s put it this way. There are a lot of limitations with Siargao dahil mabundok sa paligid [because the surroundings are mountainous]… A lot of limitations. That’s why we’re looking into a new site as far as Siargao is concerned,” he said.
In September, the DoTr presented in a Senate budget hearing a proposed P500-million budget for the feasibility study and site acquisition for the new Siargao airport. Mr. Tamayo said about P400 million was eventually approved.
“Medyo nag-aalangan kami d’yan. Kasi may pondo na ‘yung bago diba (We have some questions about the proposal because the study for the new one is already funded),” Mr. Tamayo said.
PAGSS is the ground-handing services firm controlled by Jefferson G. Cheng. It is also part of the group that won the O&M contract for the Clark International Airport last year, together with Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd.
Mr. Tamayo said should PAGSS be interested to invest in building the new Siargao airport, the DoTr would welcome the idea.
“There’s a possibility. We’re open to (official development assistance or public-private partnership) project. We’re open to anything,” he said.
Currently, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific offer direct flights to the surfing capital from Manila. Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose F. Matugas II said in August that arrivals totaled 600,000 in the seven months to July, half of them foreign. — Denise A. Valdez
