Aboitiz confident of securing Laguindingan airport deal

MANILA, Philippines — Aboitiz InfraCapital is optimistic that its unsolicited proposal to operate and maintain the Laguindingan International Airport has a strong fighting chance against potential rivals.

Cosette Canilao, president and CEO of the Aboitiz Group’s infrastructure arm, told the Inquirer they were “confident” with the proposal that allowed them to secure an original proponent status (OPS) in 2019.

“I’m confident that our proposal is based on sound assumptions. It has gone through a lot of vetting,” she said.

READ: Gov’t readies Swiss challenge to airport upgrade proposal

Last month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines started the Swiss challenge for the airport project, inviting proposals to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the Laguindingan airport under a 30-year concession period.

A Swiss challenge is being conducted to invite other interested parties to submit offers that can rival that submitted by the OPS holder. The OPS is then allowed to match those offers during the process; if no better counter offer would be submitted, the OPS will become the winner.

Under the new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) code, the proposal is now subject to a longer Swiss challenge period of 90 days from just 60 days previously.

READ: Aboitiz awarded original proponent status for Laguindingan airport

Canilao said they have yet to receive an update from the DOTr and PPP Center of the Philippines regarding the submission of a competing proposal.

The P12.75-billion Laguindingan airport upgrade project seeks to improve connectivity to northern Mindanao, including Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Camiguin, among others.