Davao International Airport. INQUIRER FILES
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is working with the International Finance Corp. (IFC) in crafting guidelines for the bidding of the Davao International Airport project, one of the major infrastructures in the government’s pipeline.
In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said it had inked a transaction advisory service agreement with the World Bank Group unit to lay out the airport project’s terms of reference (TOR).
TOR sets the deliverables the interested project bidders are expected to meet, in addition to the qualification and cost projections, among others.
The DOTr targets to release the TOR within six months. This will be followed by the issuance of an invitation to bid.
“This agreement will formulate the best way to rehabilitate, expand, operate, and maintain the Davao International Airport and other regional airports,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.
READ: DOTr steps up development of regional airports
IFC regional manager Thomas Lubeck, meanwhile, said they were looking forward to “leveraging all our experience to make this a success, not only for the government but also for all the end users.”
Bautista said they were eyeing to complete the entire public-private partnership process within 13 months.
The government has been pouring in investments into regional gateways to improve connectivity not only across the country but also towards international destinations.
Apart from Davao, the DOTr is looking at developing airports in Busuanga, Bacolod, Bicol and General Santos, among others.
It also aims to award the P4.53 billion Bohol-Panglao airport contract before the year ends. The unsolicited proposal put forward by the Aboitiz Group—the holder of original proponent status—is undergoing a Swiss challenge to invite other rivaling bids.
READ: DOTr: Naia airport fee hike approved by Cabinet
For next year, DOTr wants to award the contracts to develop Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, and Kalibo airports.
The P20.85-billion Iloilo project and P10.24-billion Puerto Princesa contract were proposed by Villar-led Prime Asset Ventures Inc.
The P3.62-billion Kalibo International Airport project is an unsolicited proposal by Mega7 Construction Corp., a company owned by advertising firm Digichive Philippines Corp. and merchandise company Dominion Intertrade Corp.
Meanwhile, the operation and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport will be turned over to the Aboitiz Group next year.