The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is open to accepting unsolicited proposals from the private sector for the planned expansion, upgrade and operation of the regional airports.
“We will welcome unsolicited proposals for the regional airports,” Jaime Bautista, DOTr secretary, told Malaya Business Insight.
Outside the capital, Bautista said, 10 regional airports are being eyed to be upgraded, expanded and operated under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. The airports include those in Bohol, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Siargao and the Bicol International Airport, among others.
At the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, Bautista said the DOTr will invite the private sector to participate in privatizing projects such as the EDSA Busway, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and a network of seaports in the country.
“We plan to invite as many private sector participants in our infrastructure projects, such as the privatization of the EDSA Carousel, the operation of our seaports, the privatization of 10 provincial airports, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit project and many more,” he said, adding that completing these projects will increase the efficiency and productivity of Filipinos.
DOTr is encouraging private sector participation and is actively pursuing the PPP scheme in completing big-ticket transportation infrastructure projects throughout the country.
Bautista said with other DOTr projects encountering limited budget allocations, the private sector’s participation in completing such projects will be “crucial.”
“We are therefore actively pursuing the public-private partnership scheme to complete a number of these projects,” he said.
Bautista added the government is confident that the expertise and capabilities of the private sector can bring such ambitious undertakings to completion.
He said the PPP scheme will generate investments and employment for Filipinos, while promoting transport connectivity and reducing logistics costs.
