Review of unsolicited proposals to remain unhampered — DOTr

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation assured the public that the review of unsolicited proposals would continue despite the lockdown in Luzon.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed all concerned offices under his agency, particularly the legal affairs and planning department, to continue coordination and review of relevant documents of unsolicited proposals submitted to the DOTr.

“This quarantine does not mean all pending tasks must also stop.  We should take this as an opportunity to finish all pending assignments and tasks,” Tugade said.

If possible and logistically permissible, Tugade strongly advised officials to use teleconferencing.

The DOTr has received numerous unsolicited proposals from the private sector for the expansion, operations, and maintenance of regional airports in the country.

These include Aboitiz InfraCapital for the Laguindingan Airport, Prime Asset Ventures Inc. of the Villar group for the Puerto Princesa airport and Iloilo International airport, Mega7 Construction Corp. for the Kalibo International Airport, Udenna Infrastructure Corp. for the Bacolod-Silay Airport and the Busuanga Airport in Palawan, and the Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. for the Siargao Airport in Surigao del Norte.

DOTr previously returned to its respective proponents the unsolicited proposals for airports to pattern their offers with the Clark International Airport concession agreement.

Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp.’s unsolicited offer to modernize the Davao International Airport secured last December clearance from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee.

Meanwhile, an unsolicited proposal by the Aboitiz InfraCapital for the Bohol-Panglao International Airport ,  has been cleared by the NEDA board in November last year.

Aside from ensuring continuous review of unsolicited proposals by concerned offices, Tugade has also directed the Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure that movement of cargoes, especially food and medicine, must be unhampered as part of the government directive on the transport of goods.