By Denise A. Valdez
Reporter

THE REVISED concession terms for the P42.7-billion Laguindingan airport proposal of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. are now being reviewed by the Department of Transportation (DoTr), the agency said.

Transportation Undersecretary for Planning Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr. said in a text message Tuesday the “evaluation of (Aboitiz InfraCapital’s) revised submission is ongoing,” referring to the concession terms for the company’s unsolicited proposal to take over the Laguindingan airport.

Once it hurdles the department’s review, the proposal will then be turned over to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), joining three other airport proposals that have earlier been endorsed by the DoTr: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Davao International Airport proposals.

Last week, Aboitiz InfraCapital Chief Operating Officer Cosette V. Canilao told reporters the company has submitted its revised concession terms to the DoTr to follow the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the Clark International Airport.

“We’ve been in constant communication with DoTr. Everything looks okay naman,” she said.

The DoTr said in June it started requiring all airport development proponents to submit concession terms that are patterned after the government’s contract with Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. for the O&M of the Clark International Airport.

The Clark O&M contract requires the private concessionaire to handle all market risks and take on the insurance for damage to an airport’s assets. It also said the government will indemnify the concessionaire from material adverse government action, or compensate the private sector in the event of untoward incidences in the course of a project.

So far, the DoTr had given to NEDA the P102-billion proposal of the consortium of seven conglomerates for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The group is formed by Aboitiz InfraCapital; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest; JG Summit; and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Aboitiz InfraCapital’s Bohol-Panglao International Airport was likewise given to NEDA in August.

Mr. Reinoso said Tuesday the department had also already endorsed the P49-billion proposal of Dennis A. Uy-led Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. for the Davao International Airport to NEDA.

Ms. Canilao said Aboitiz InfraCapital is hoping to be awarded the three airport development projects it is vying to take on — NAIA, Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan airports — by early next year.

“Pwede matapos yung Swiss challenge this year (The Swiss challenge may be finished this year), but the awarding would take next year siguro (most likely),” she said.

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