DOTr pushes PPP on regional airports
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio Dizon is focusing on developing the regional airports via public-private partnerships (PPP) in order to boost tourism activities, identifying Iloilo and Davao hubs as priority projects.
Dizon, in a press briefing last week, raised the need for private sector partners in maintaining and operating the regional gateways in order to ensure quality service for passengers.
“We need to fast-track all these PPPs for these regional airports,” he said.
In doing so, Dizon said he would be seeking out the advice of the Asian Development Bank and International Finance Corp. to determine the “best way” to realize these projects.
The newly-minted transport chief said they must “fix” these airports immediately to attract more guests, who can boost spending in these tourist destinations.
The P21.16-billion Iloilo International Airport project proposed by the Villar Group is in the process of getting approval from the National Economic and Development Authority.
READ: BIZ BUZZ: Changes in DOTr (Part 2)
The airport project in western Visayas includes the expansion of the passenger terminal building and construction of an apron where aircraft can park and refuel, among others.
The bidding process for the Davao International Airport, meanwhile, is slated to start by the first half of this year.
Also known as Francisco Bangoy (Davao) International Airport, this gateway is the third busiest airport in the country after Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
In addition, Dizon raised the need to develop the airports in Siargao, Puerto Princesa and Busuanga.
Last year, the government awarded the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan International Airport projects to Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.
The Bohol airport, the passenger capacity of which is expected to grow to 3.9 million passengers per year by 2030 from the current 2 million, is expected to boost tourism in Visayas.
The Laguindingan project, meanwhile, seeks to improve connectivity to northern Mindanao, which covers Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Camiguin, among others. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
