THE national government plans to lump the bidding of the operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts of six key airports, according to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.
On the sidelines of the first Philippine Investment Conference, PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao told reporters that the bidding of the six airports will be done in two tranches.
These airports are in the Laguindingan, Bohol, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao and Puerto Princesa. The Laguindingan and Bohol airports were approved in a National Economic and Development Authority Board meeting prior to the one conducted last Friday.
“The target is December or January for the bidding of the airports, the issuance of the invitation to prequalify to bid [ITPB],” Canilao said.
“Each airport kasi medyo maliit siya so to attract more investors, during our market sounding, mas gusto nila ’yung mas mataas na passenger throughput,” she added.
By lumping the bidding for the six airports, Canilao said it is possible that a single private entity can win all the six airport O&M and development projects.
But, Canilao clarified, that the rules of the bidding process will be finalized by December before the ITPB is issued.
However, she said the bidding process for the six airports will likely follow the procedures implemented in the bidding of the PPP for school infrastructure projects (PSIP), which was also done in two phases.
The PPP Center data showed that the P16.42-billion PSIP Phase 1 was undertaken by Citicore Holdings Investment Inc.-Megawide Construction Corp. Inc. and BF Corp.-Riverbanks Development Corp.
The P3.86-billion PSIP Phase 2, meanwhile, is being undertaken by Megawide Construction Corp. Inc. and the Consortium of BSP & Co. Inc and Vicente T. Lao Construction.