Chelsea, Mega 7 bag original proponent status for Davao, Kalibo airport proposals
MANILA, Philippines — Two companies gained headway in their respective proposals to develop international airports in Davao and Kalibo after securing original proponent status, or OPS.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation said it granted the OPS to Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. for its P49 billion offer to upgrade the Davao International Airport, and to Mega 7 Construction Corp. for its P3.8 billion plan for the Kalibo International Airport.
Both airport have been lined up for development and among DOTr’s “high priority” infrastructure projects under President Rodrigo Duterte’s ambitious “Build Build Build” program.
Being the original bidders, the two firms now have the right to match the offers given by other companies via a Swiss challenge. The National Economic Development Authority will evaluate the proposals for approval.
Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics seeks to operate, maintain and expand the Davao airport by offering new technology to enhance passenger experience. Meanwhile, Mega 7 Construction wants to give the Kalibo airport’s facilities and systems a makeover.
Both proposals will include the expansion of passenger terminal buildings and a 30-year concession period.
“The DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have no objections on the unsolicited proposals, subject to legal, technical and financial conditionalities,” the government said.
Calls on the government to fast-track the approval of offers to build and operate more gateways outside the capital have intensified after a Chinese plane skidded onto the grass and blocked the Manila airport’s runway in August, which prompted the cancellation of around 165 international and local flights.
Seeing the deterioration of the Manila airport, the Duterte administration has been entertaining unsolicited proposals to rehabilitate the country’s premier gateway and build more provincial airports. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral
- Latest
- Trending
