THE INFRASTRUCTURE arm of the Aboitiz group is about to take over the operations and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental next yr, the Transportation department said.
“We’re planning to sign the concession agreement for the Laguindingan airport throughout the month. The takeover will occur inside 4 to 6 months,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista told reporters on the sidelines of an aviation forum on Wednesday.
In September, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the contract to operate and maintain the Laguindingan International Airport could be awarded to Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., the unique proponent.
This got here after the DoTr received no counter proposal to challenge the unsolicited proposal of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Mr. Bautista said previously.
“Aboitiz InfraCapital is raring and able to tackle the operations, management, and expansion of the Laguindingan airport… We’re waiting on the direction from the federal government on this for the notice of award. From there, signing should follow, then after might be a transition period to takeover,” Aboitiz InfraCapital said in a press release to BusinessWorld.
Based on the Instructions to Challengers published by the DoTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the notice of award and other post-award requirements would immediately be issued upon the approval of the award by the Transportation Secretary and the governing board of CAAP.
It added that the unique proponent or the winning challenger would execute the concession agreement inside five days from its receipt of notification of compliance with the post-award requirements.
IMMEDIATE PLANS
The corporate said its immediate plans for the airport include expanding its operating capability.
“What we will share presently is we plan on expanding the operating capability of the airport given the expansion potential we see in Northern Mindanao,” Aboitiz InfraCapital said.
The Transportation department goals to implement the primary phase of the Laguindingan International Airport PPP project from 2024 to 2026.
The airport may have a capability of 1.6 million passengers a yr, which is able to increase to three.9 million by the tip of the primary phase and to six.1 million by the tip of the second phase.
In accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Center, the contract for the Laguindingan airport will run for a period of 35 years.
The corporate has also submitted unsolicited proposals for the operations, maintenance, and development of the Recent Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Bicol International Airport, and Iloilo International Airport.
The group secured original proponent status for the Recent Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which is able to undergo the Swiss challenge by November, in keeping with Mr. Bautista.
In 2022, Aboitiz InfraCapital finalized a cope with Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Airports International B.V., allowing it to amass shares in GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., the corporate behind the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
