Aboitiz infra arm allots P27 billion for Bohol airport

CEBU, Philippines — If Cebu has a resort-inspired international airport, Bohol will soon take pride of the country’s first eco-tourism terminal.

This, if the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group will succeed in its proposal to take over the management of the Bohol Panglao International airport, said Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. chief operating officer Cosette Canilao.

In an interview, Canilao said the company is hoping to start within the first half of next year to take over, so that it could immediately implement the improvement works of the airport.

As an Eco-Tourism Airport, Canilao said the company plans to increase its reliance on solar power, install sustainable fixtures, and efficient use of air-conditioning, among others.

If approved, Aboitiz InfraCapital estimates to spend about P27 billion on Bohol’s first eco-airport in 30 years.

As a regional international airport, the company also plans to spend on promoting the destination strongly to improve passenger flow, upgrade retail and dining experience.

Aboitiz InfraCapital is proposing to upgrade, expand, operate and maintain the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan Airport.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr ) last month endorsed the company’s unsolicited proposal for the Bohol Panglao airport to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) after finding the revised offer aligned with the concession terms of the Clark International Airport.

Canilao said Aboitiz has also submitted last month to the DOTr a revised offer for the Laguindingan Airport.

She reiterated that the company has been in constant communication with DOTr “so everything looks okay.”

Aboitiz InfraCapital has been granted original proponent status for both regional airport proposals, which will give it the upper hand once a Swiss challenge is undertaken for the respective projects.

To get to the Swiss challenge process, however, Aboitiz Infra’s unsolicited offers have to secure approvals from both the NEDA-ICC and the NEDA board.

Aboitiz InfraCapital has teamed up with Irish airport operations company daa International, the global airport operations management subsidiary of Ireland’s Dublin Airport Authority, for the potential takeover of the Bohol-Panglao and Laguindingan airports.