THE GOVERNMENT said it is hoping to conduct the Swiss challenge for the Bohol-Panglao International Airport within the fourth quarter.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto C.O. Lim told reporters on Friday that the preliminary work leading up to the challenge is on track.
“There were some presentations made to the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee, and there were some directives given, so we simply have to continue discussions and negotiations. But it is still on schedule” to take place by the fourth quarter, Mr. Lim said.
The Aboitiz group, through its infrastructure arm — Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. — secured original proponent status (OPS) for the operations and maintenance of the airport for 25 years.
However, Mr. Lim said that as the Aboitiz group secured OPS years ago, many revisions were necessary due to the pandemic, while proponents have also had to navigate new implementing rules for unsolicited proposals, and the signing of the PPP (public-private partnership) Code.
“All of those are being complied with by the proponents,” he said.
Separately, PPP Center Executive Director Cynthia C. Hernandez said that the Bohol-Panglao airport is scheduled for National Economic and Development Authority board approval on Monday.
“If it’s approved, then we will have a competitive challenge,” Ms. Hernandez said.
The Swiss challenge allows other companies to submit alternative proposals to a project, with the original proponent granted the right to match their bids.
Valued at P4.5 billion, the project is expected to serve approximately 3.9 million passengers a year once completed, up from its current capacity of two million passengers.
As for the other airports, Ms. Hernandez said they are looking to conclude negotiations and get approval for four to five airport projects that have original proponents this year.
“The negotiation process for most of the airports with unsolicited proposals is ongoing. So within the year, we hope to have the negotiations concluded and approved,” she said.
“The Swiss challenge for those four to five airports will be early next year,” she added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lim said that airlines at the Clark International Airport are set to benefit from the Clark International Airport Corp.’s (CIAC) P8.5-billion National Food Hub project.
“We need to transport food, and if it will be a major hub that will have volumes of food for domestic transport or for international transport, the airlines would like to have that,” he said.
On Friday, the CIAC, PPP Center, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement for technical advisory services in the establishment of the 62-hectare National Food Hub at the Clark Civil Aviation Complex.
Under the agreement, the ADB will provide market-facing transaction advisory services and technical assistance, including the preparation of pre-tender documents, securing approvals, and assistance with the tender process.
The ADB is expected to complete the feasibility study on the project and other pre-tender documents by January 2025.
CIAC President Arrey A. Perez said that the first phase of the food hub is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
“Phase 2, I would say, would take another five years so that everything will be completed by 2032,” Mr. Perez said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
