The unsolicited airport development and expansion project proposed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. is set to face a Swiss challenge later this year, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.
Roberto Lim, DOTr undersecretary for aviation and airports, said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is currently evaluating the unsolicited proposal to modernize the Laguindingan Airport, the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and the Bicol International Airport.
“The three are already with NEDA-ICC. These are unsolicited proposals that were submitted in the last administration. We hope this month or next month NEDA comes up with a decision,” Lim said.
Once this is done, all three proposals are up for a Swiss challenge in which third parties are allowed to make a better offer although the original proponent has the right to counter match the superior offer.
Lim expects the proponents of the other provincial airport development projects to submit their revised proposals to the NEDA in the coming months.
The agency earlier asked the various proponents to re-submit “improved” unsolicited proposals based on amended implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
Aboitiz InfaCapital earlier secured an original proponent status (OPS) from the Duterte administration for the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the Bicol International Airport in Albay and the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. also secured an OPS from the DOTr for its unsolicited proposal to develop and boost the facilities of Davao International Airport.
The DOTr awarded an OPS to Mega7 Construction Corp. for the Kalibo International Airport.
Other unsolicited proposals submitted under the previous administration were that of Prime Asset Ventures Inc. of the Villar group for the Puerto Princesa Airport and Iloilo International Airport and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. for the Siargao Airport in Surigao del Norte.
The DOTr had said some P1 trillion worth or regional airport projects are set for completion this year.
These are the Tuguegarao Airport, Tacloban Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport, San Vicente Airport, Ozamiz Airport, Catbalogan Airport, Davao International Airport, Sanga-Sanga Airport and M’lang Airport in Central Mindanao.
