6 groups offer to undertake regional airports development projects

MANILA, Philippines - Six groups submitted qualification documents for the regional airports project under the public-private partnership (PPP) program despite a stay order issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The groups which submitted pre-qualification documents are: San Miguel Holdings Corp.-Incheon International Airport Corp.; Philippine Airports Consortium (Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Aeroports de Paris Management S.A. and TAV Havalimanlari Holdings A.S.); Union Equities; GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Consortium; Sojitz-Jatco-Filinvest; and Maya Consortium (Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and VINCI Airports).

While the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) was served a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Davao Regional Trial Court on the project yesterday, Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco said the department decided to proceed with the qualification process as scheduled.

The DOTC decided to proceed with the submission of qualification documents for the project citing that under existing laws, an RTC can only issue an injunction within its judicial region.

Under RA 8975, lower courts are also prohibited from issuing stay orders on government infrastructure projects to ensure expeditious implementation.

Since the 72-hour TRO was issued on Aug. 12, the DOTC also said it is no longer valid. “We have to wait for the advice of the Office of the Solicitor General,” DOTC spokesman Michael Sagcal said.

The regional airports project will be bid out in two bundles. The first bundle covers the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay Airport and P30.40-billion Iloilo Airport, while the second one consists of the P40.57-billion Davao Airport, P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport and P2.34- billion New Bohol Airport.

The winning concessionaires for each bundle will be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the airports for 30 years, as well as undertake the expansion of the facilities as the airports are operating beyond their capacity.