Following success of MCIA: DOTC wants PPP for other airports

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communication wants the other five regional airports in the country to also venture into a Public-Private Partnership, similar to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The Bacolod-Silay International Airport; the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao; the Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro; and the Iloilo International Airport, as well as the new Bohol Airport in Panglao which is still being constructed, were among the airports mentioned by DOTC Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya that he wants to follow in the steps of MCIA’s partnership with private operator GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC).

“Those five regional airports, what we did in Mactan- Cebu (International Airport), we want to do to those airports,” Abaya said.

Through the PPP, the government provides incentives to stimulate private resources in financing the construction, operation and maintenance of public infrastructure and development projects.

MCIA and GMCAC entered into a partnership in 2014, in which the latter took operations in November 1 of the same year.

The GMCAC kicked off several renovations to the existing facility of MCIA in line with its plans to fully operate by 2018 the new resort-themed terminal 2.

Abaya recently attended GMCAC’s concrete pouring ceremony last January 22, signifying the start of the construction of MCIA Terminal 2.

MCIA is the first airport under a PPP, according to Abaya.

Abaya said there is an ongoing bidding for the five regional airports, in which GMCAC is welcome to participate, following their achievements for the MCIA.

“You could just imagine - GMCAC operating if not all, some of those airports so kaya nilang pagandahin ng ganito. They bring in new technology, bring in more efficient procedures and mas magandang experience sa ating mga kabaybayan at sa ating mga turista,” Abaya said.

He added that other private companies can also join the bid in bundles.

“That is ongoing. It is bundled into two - one bundle is Iloilo and Bacolod. So bidders will bid for that. There’s bundle two of Laguindingan, Panglao and Davao, they’ll bid for that,” Abaya said.

There will be separate winners in each bundle, said Abaya, who wants the bidding to be a fair competition.

“Essentially our objective is what we do in Cebu, we will also achieve in those airports,” Abaya restated.  (FREEMAN)