South Korea backs new Dumaguete airport

The government of South Korea is supporting a new airport project in Dumaguete and a feasibility study is already underway.

An Inquirer source with knowledge of the matter said the study, funded using a grant from the Korean government, would be completed within the year.

Other details, such as the total project cost and timing of construction, would depend on the results of the study, the source said.

The new project would eventually replace the air gateway in Sibulan, which is located north of Dumaguete City, a tourist hub in the province of Negros Oriental.

The government has been moving to develop regional airports, given congestion in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and growing traffic in key provincial gateways.

The Duterte administration recently announced a broad policy of bidding out provincial airport projects to the private sector.

This meant also rejecting proposals from the private companies seeking to operate and develop projects using the unsolicited project route.

On February 5, Uy-led Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. submitted a P67-billion offer to expand and operate in Davao, the country’s largest gateway after Manila and Cebu, and New Bohol via a 30-year concession.

Then on March 7, Aboitiz InfraCapital offered to expand and operate the airports in Iloilo, Bacolod, Laguindingan and New Bohol. Its offer involved a P148-billion investment and a 35-year concession.

This week, however, the Aboitiz group said its project was officially rejected by the Department of Transportation given the latter’s policy for a solicited bid process.

“AIC [Abotiz InfraCapital] remains committed to supporting the Philippine government in its efforts to advance infrastructure within the country, particularly in the aviation sector. We look forward to receiving the final details of the upcoming tender and will continue supporting the development of the regional airports,” it said in a stock exchange filing.