Chelsea ready to adopt Clark airport template

MANILA, Philippines — Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy sees no problem in complying with the government’s order to pattern its unsolicited airport proposal with that of the Clark International Airport’s operations and maintenance contract, which for some includes a contentious issue known as a material adverse government action.

“By the initial looks of it, our proposals will not have much changes if we have to really adopt such Clark model,” Chelsea Logistics president and chief executive officer Chryss Alfonsus Damuy told The STAR.

Chelsea has been awarded in October last year the original proponent status (OPS) for its unsolicited proposal for the development, operation, and management of the Davao International Airport over a concession period of 30 years.

Last May, the company said it expects to secure by early third quarter the National Economic and Development Authority’s nod for its P49-billion unsolicited proposal, which will kick off the Swiss challenge process for the project.

However, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade late last month has ordered the return to their respective proponents of all airport unsolicited proposals which have been granted the OPS, except for the Bulacan airport which is a greenfield project, to align them with the Clark International Airport’s contract.

A 25-year concession agreement to operate and maintain the Clark International Airport was signed last January between the government and the North Luzon Airport Consortium composed of Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc.