The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday committed to complete the Swiss challenge on two regional airport projects before the end of the year.
“The unsolicited proposals for the Laguindingan International Airport and Bohol-Panglao International Airport are undergoing the Swiss challenge,” Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said at the aviation forum the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) co-hosted with San Miguel Corp.
The Swiss Challenge is a form of procurement where other proponents are given an opportunity to challenge the bid of the original proponent in one of a number of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in this case.
Bautista said the deadline for the submission of challenge bids for the Laguindingan PPP is on 13 September while that of the Bohol-Panglao is on 11 November this year.
The agency earlier said at least two challengers paid a non-refundable participation fee of P250,000 or $4,500 for the Laguindingan Airport project.
Aboitiz InfaCapital Inc. earlier secured original proponent status (OPS) from the Duterte administration for its unsolicited proposals for the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport and the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
Bautista also said the DOTr is closely working with the World Bank’s private sector investment arm, the International Finance Corporation, as well as with the Asian Development Bank in launching more PPP projects next year.
The airports include the Basco, Busuanga, Cauayan, Daraga in Bicol and Tuguegarao airports in Luzon, and the Bacolod, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Catarman, Ormoc and Siquijor in the Visayas.
The DOTr also plans a parallel bidding for airports in Camiguin, Davao, General Santos and Surigao in Mindanao.
“Meanwhile, the ADB is helping us evaluate the upgrade, expansion and construction of airports in Busuanga, Cauayan, Tuguegarao, Basco, Camiguin, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Catarman, Ormoc and Surigao,” Bautista said.
Apart from Dumaguete, other greenfield airports being pursued include the airports in Masbate, Naga, Pangasinan, Siargao and Zamboanga,” Bautista said.
