By PR | 11:11 AM December 05, 2019
The Aboitiz Group’s plan to upgrade and operate the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which opened on Nov. 28 last year, was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board.
The Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. earlier made a P3.8-billion unsolicited offer to operate and develop the Bohol-Panglao Airport which will pave the way for the start of a required bidding through a Swiss or price challenge, which is expected to be held in early 2020.
The project, with an estimated capital expenditure of PhP3.8 billion, involves the operations and maintenance of the BPIA, including initial enhancement and installation of internal fit-outs of existing facilities (Phase 1 from 2020 to 2021), as well as optimization and reconfiguration as dictated by traffic demand (Phase 2 from 2026 to 2027).
In a statement, the NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, gave the green light after earlier revisions on the proposal were made.
On November 6, the NEDA’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) approved the unsolicited proposal for the airport’s operations and maintenance (O&M) under a 25-year concession period.
Under the unsolicited proposal submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Aboitiz Group will serve as the concessionaire, through its infrastructure arm, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC).
As is procedure, the project, NEDA said, will still be subjected to a Swiss challenge wherein other firms may challenge AIC’s bid. AIC may then match the best bid from challengers.
The Panglao-based international airport is also known as the “Green Gateway to the World” for harnessing green technology and environmentally sustainable structures.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the green-lighting of the BPIA O&M project will aid in boosting regional economic growth and tourism in Bohol, in consonance with the thrust of the “Build, Build, Build” Program of the Duterte administration.
“It is our hope that this new airport will help propel development in Bohol and the rest of the Visayas. Matagal na nilang pinapangarap ito. Ngayon ay mas nalalapit tayo sa pagbibigay katuparan sa pangarap na ‘yon,” Secretary Tugade said.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary and Infrastructure Cluster head Mark Villar also approved of the NEDA Board’s decision to give the BPIA O&M proposal the go-ahead.
“This is a very positive development as far as fast-tracking our infrastructure backlogs is concerned. This is for our kababayans in Visayas. This is for the the entire Filipino people,” Secretary Villar stated.
For his part, Secretary Vince Dizon, Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects, positively noted the green-lighting of the airport project.
“The BPIA project will help create the needed atmosphere for speedy realization of the transportation roadmap as envisioned by the DOTr under the leadership of Secretary Tugade,” Secretary Dizon said.
Bohol-Panglao, which started construction in 2015, was among five provincial gateways that were being bid out to interested private sector groups during the tail-end of the Aquino administration.
