New timeline for reg’l airports PPP released

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has released the indicative timeline for the development, operations and maintenance of the P108 billion regional airports project under the public-private partnership (PPP) program, with the submission of qualification documents scheduled in April, and the deadline for bids set in November this year.

The indicative timeline contained in the instructions to prospective bidders posted on the DOTr’s website showed the pre-qualification conference for the five regional airports project is on March 13.

The project, which involves financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Bacolod-Silay, Davao, Iloilo, Laguindingan and the New Bohol (Panglao) airports, was rolled out under the Aquino administration, but unable to go through bidding.

When the project was rolled out by the previous administration, it was offered in two bundles, with bundle 1 composed of the Iloilo Airport and Bacolod-Silay Airport, and bundle 2 covering the Davao Airport, New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and the Laguindingan Airport.

The current administration has decided to unbundle the five airports to expedite the completion of PPP selection and award.

Groups pre-qualified by the previous administration to bid for the project are still considered pre-qualified by the current administration, provided there are no changes in their legal, technical and/or financial capacity.

Other firms may also participate in the pre-qualification process and bidding, as long as they purchase the invitation documents.

The submission and opening of qualification documents from interested bidders are scheduled on April 26.

The DOTr expects to complete the evaluation of the qualification documents and issue the results in May.

Pre-bid conference for the project will be held in June, while the deadline for the submission of bids will be in November.

The DOTr wants to issue the notice of award for the project by January next year, while the signing of concession agreements will be in March next year.