The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed plans to bid out six airports as public-private partnership projects to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to expand and modernize the country’s gateway system.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Michelle de Vera on Thursday identified the airports lined up for bidding as those of Davao International, Siargao, Laoag International, Tacloban, Bacolod and Busuanga.
The DOTr is also considering bidding out the operation and maintenance of Bicol International Airport within the term of President Marcos, De Vera told this paper.
There is a need to privatize as many airports in the runup to 2028 when the Marcos administration ends, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in a separate publicly broadcast interview earlier this week.
The goal, he said, is to privatize six more airports, to modernize and expand their capacities.
The DOTr plans to expand the Siargao Airport terminal, which currently has a seating capacity of 250 passengers but handles 17 flights per day, before it is bidded out.
Funding is available and the procurement process has begun, Dizon said, but construction is expected to start in July this year.
Only then can the winning bidder take over the Siargao Airport for further expansion works.
During the first three years of the current administration’s six-year term, the government was able to privatize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Laguindingan Airport, and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
In the case of Bohol-Panglao International, its operation and maintenance will be transferred by the DOTr to Aboitiz InfraCapital.
Under the 30-year concession agreement, Aboitiz plans to invest P4.53 billion to expand the airport’s terminal, upgrade its aviation systems, and enhance other airport facilities.
Within the first two years of taking over the airport, Aboitiz aims to expand its current capacity of 2 million to 2.5 million passengers per year. The expansion is expected to reach 3.9 million passengers per year by 2030.
