DESPITE criticisms that unbundled regional airports deal is not commercially viable, the transportation department will push through with the contracts’ prequalification conference this month.
According to a bid bulletin, the prequalification of bidders for the P108.2-billion regional airport development program is slated for March 13.
The previous administration started the auction for the contract to develop and operate five airports around the Philippines in two packages to make it more enticing to investors.
The first package consists of the Bacolod-Silay Airport (P20.26 billion) and Iloilo Airport (P30.40 billion), while the second bundle is composed of the New Bohol or Panglao Airport (P2.34 billion), Laguindingan Airport (P14.62 billion) and Davao Airport (P40.57 billion).
However, the Duterte admin decided to unbundle them to hasten the bidding for the said deals.
The private partner will undertake the operation and maintenance of the airport, as well as provide additional facilities and other necessary improvements to enhance passenger safety, security, access, passenger and cargo movement efficiency, and operational efficiency under a defined concession period.
Private-sector interest in the deals have waned, as unbundling the packages made them not economically viable.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s partner has backed out of the bidding due to the unbundling. A number of companies also claimed that only Davao and Iloilo are viable deals.