Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on January 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it plans to privatize the operations of other airports in the Philippines to improve services and to unburden the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) which now acts as both operator and regulator of most airports in the country.

At the 2024 Aviation Summit, DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim said next week the agency is set to sign a concession agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) for the operations and maintenance of Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental. The project is worth P12.75 billion for a 30-year concession period.

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Meanwhile, the deadline for the "Swiss challenge" on the unsolicited bid to operate Bohol-Panglao airport will be in November. Aboitiz has also secured the "original proponent status" of the Bohol airport. 

“We are excited to take on revitalizing Laguindingan Airport and collaborating with stakeholders to create a world-class facility that serves the travelers and the community alike,” Cosette Canilao, AIC President and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement.

Lim added that more airport projects are in the pipeline for a possible public private partnership deal. These include Iloilo and Puerto Princesa with a bid from Villar’s Prime Ventures, and Kalibo with a bid from Mega7. At least ten other airports have varying degrees of PPP project development. 

“We’re trying to decongest CAAP with the burden of operating a facility. We want CAAP to unburden itself with the responsibility of operating airports,” Lim said.

He added that they are also conducting studies with the Asian Development Bank for the possible bundling of airports in a package. He said they could mix a big airport with smaller airports to make it more attractive to investors. 

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“Make sure it is economically viable and therefore attractive for the private sector to participate in undertaking a PPP. But there is also a developmental aspect,” he said.

There are 90 airports in the Philippines including the small airports in islands. Only 5 are operated by a private company - namely Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Laguindingan Airport which was recently awarded.