Dennis Uy, PAGSS gain headway in regional airport proposals

MANILA, Philippines — The group of businessman Dennis Uy and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. (PAGSS) have each gained the upper hand in their respective unsolicited proposals to develop key regional airports.

An official from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) told The STAR  that Uy’s Udenna Infrastructure Corp.’s proposal to develop, operate and maintain the Busuanga Airport in Palawan and PAGSS’ offer for the upgrade, operations and maintenance of the Siargao Airport in Surigao del Norte have been cleared by the board of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The transport official, who declined to be identified, said the award of the original proponent status (OPS) to both firms is up for signing within the month.

Having the OPS gives Udenna and PAGSS the advantage once the Swiss Challenge is undertaken for the projects.

The proposals for the Busuanga and Siargao airports will now be forwarded by the DOTr to the National Economic and Development Authority for review.

Both proposals were previously returned by the government to their respective proponents following a requirement to pattern concession terms with that of Clark International Airport.

For Uy’s Udenna Group, the offer for the Busuanga gateway is its second unsolicited airport proposal which have managed to secure an OPS.

Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. was previously awarded the OPS for its unsolicited offer for the development, operation and management of the Davao International Airport.

Udenna Infrastructure Corp. has also submitted an unsolicited proposal for the expansion, augmentation, operations and maintenance of Bacolod-Silay Airport, which is still waiting approval from CAAP. 

PAGSS, meanwhile, is part of the consortium that has bagged the contract to operate and maintain the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Its partners for Clark International Airport are Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Changi Airport Philippines Pte. Ltd., operator of the most awarded airport in the world, Singapore Changi Airport.

The groundhandling services company controlled by businessman Jefferson Cheng submitted its unsolicited proposal for Siargao Airport, also known as the Sayak Airport, last February.

The company provides high quality ground handling services that meet international standards to ensure efficiency in service delivery.