Aboitiz, Chelsea asked to resubmit regional airport proposal

MANILA, Philippines — The Aboitiz Group and Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics Corp. will have to submit anew their respective offers to build and operate provincial airports in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso Jr. told The STAR that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has asked Aboitiz and Chelsea “to revise their proposal and resubmit.”

“It’s not rejected. We’re negotiating for better proposals before we recommend grant of original proponent status (OPS) and they agreed to improve their offers,” Reinoso said.

Reinoso said the DOTr is hoping to receive the proposal from the two companies within the month.

“They need time to run financial viability,” he said.

Reinoso told The STAR earlier this month that evaluation of the unsolicited proposals for the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao and the Davao International Airport were ongoing, and clarification from proponents on their financial offers are being sought.

Both Aboitiz and Chelsea each submitted earlier bundled unsolicited proposals for a number of the country’s regional airports, but was rejected by the DOTr due to a change in policy direction.

The DOTr has instead asked the groups to unbundle their proposals as many of the airports can stand on their own, resulting to Aboitiz choosing the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao and Chelsea picking the Davao International Airport.

Other regional airports such as the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, the Iloilo International Airpot, and Laguindingan Airport have yet to receive unsolicited proposals from the private sector.

Reinoso earlier said these airports may instead be bidded out by the government.