DoTr to decide on proposed regional airports by third quarter

By Denise A. Valdez
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it might decide by the third quarter whether to grant original proponent status to the three companies planning to develop, operate and manage regional airports, all of which have resubmitted their proposals earlier this year.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo said the review of the proposals submitted by Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. (CLC), Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. and Mega7 Construction Corp. are now in advanced stages. They are proposing to build Davao International Airport, New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport and Kalibo International Airport, respectively.
“Lalo Davao minamadali natin. [Third quarter], hopefully. Sabay-sabay with Bohol, Kalibo. Lahat advanced stage na (We’re trying to fast-track Davao. [Third quarter], hopefully, together with Bohol and Kalibo. All of them are in advanced stages),” he said in a recent interview.
Transportation Undersecretary for Planning Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr. said CLC and Aboitiz InfraCapital both initially submitted four bundled proposals for multiple regional airports, but were advised by the DoTr to resubmit separately to avoid “monopolizing” control of the airports.
Dennis A. Uy’s CLC chose to resubmit its proposal for the Davao airport, while Aboitiz InfraCapital picked the Bohol airport.
For Mega7, Mr. Reinoso said the group’s first proposal for the Kalibo airport was rejected in March for lack of information, hence the need for a new submission, which now has complete documentation.
“We’re looking at the proposal, we’re looking at the numbers, and we’re looking at the performance of [the airports] when [the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] is running it. If at net present value they give us a better offer than [with] government doing it, then we will turn it over,” he said.
Mr. Reinoso also said that for airports with no unsolicited proposals such as Iloilo, Bacolod and Laguindingan, chances are the DoTr will have to bid out contracts for their expansion and operations and management.
“But right now we’re concentrating on all of these unsolicited [proposals] kasi may timetable ‘yon (because they have a timetable),” he said.
Mr. Tamayo said the bidding of contracts for the airports is set “as soon as possible,” but some feasibility studies may have to be redone because the information are “not relevant anymore.”
He noted that in a year or two, airports may be filled up as the demand for movement increases. For instance, the new Puerto Princesa airport is nearing overcapacity after it was opened for commercial use only last year, he added.