DOTC sets bid for P128-B provincial airports

MANILA, Philippines - The government has finalized the timetable for the bidding of the operation and maintenance (O&M) of six provincial airports worth P128 billion under the public private partnership (PPP) program.

However, the P10.3 billion Puerto Princesa airport project was removed from the two packages under the Instruction to Prospective Bidders (ITPB) published by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued General Bid Bulletin 03 —2015 stating that the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa airport in the bidding projects has been put on hold until further notice.

“Please be advised that the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa airport in the bidding process being held in abeyance until further notice,” Lotilla said.

DOTC spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said in a text message that the Puerto Princesa airport would likely be bundled with other airports in Palawan.

“It now appears feasible to bid out its O&M component separately, possibly bundled together into a comprehensive tourism airport-centric strategy for Palawan airports such as San Vicente and Busuanga,” Sagcal said.

The deadline for the submission of qualification documents has been set on May 18 while the submission of bids has yet to be finalized.

The DOTC and CAAP hope to issue the Notice of Award on March next year.

The government has decided to split the bidding for the O&M of the six provincial airports with three airports each to help ensure that all airports are awarded to competent players and ensure efficient tender of all airports.

Package A that is supposed to include Puerto Princesa is now only down to Iloilo, and Bacolod-Silay airports worth P60.93 billion while Package B comprises of the Davao, Laguindingan, and New Bohol (Panglao) airports worth P66.9 billion.

The biggest project is the P40.57-billion contract to improve the services and enhance the airside and landside facilities at the Davao international airport followed by the P30.4-billion contract for the Iloilo international airport.

Other projects include the Bacolod – Silay international airport with P20.26 billion, the Laguindingan airport with P14.62 billion, New Bohol (Panglao) airport with P11.71 billion, and Puerto Princesa airport with P10.27 billion.

The airport projects would entail initial investments of up to P26.14 billion with the biggest amount going to Davao with P5.89 billion followed by Puerto Princesa with P5.81 billion, New Bohol with P4.57 billion, Iloilo with P4.01 billion, and Laguindingan with P2.26 billion.