A photo of the Bohol International Airport in 2018. Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- At least two provincial airports may be handed over to the private sector this year, said Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Aviation Roberto Lim.

Lim added that another three airports’ operations may be privatized by next year.

At the Aviation Summit press conference organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Lim said Lagundingan airport in Cagayan de Oro is now up for "Swiss challenge" after they published the instruction to bidders this week. 

This was after talks with Aboitiz InfraCapital who has original proponent status (OPS).

Lim revealed there are two groups who have paid the participation fee to possibly outbid Aboitiz but have not yet submitted any counter proposals.

Aside from Laguindingan, the Bohol-Panglao airport is also in the advancing stage of talks. Aboitiz also has OPS. The government may also award the winning bidder for both airports by the end of the year.

Lim added that the privatization of operations of Iloilo airport may also soon be awarded by early next year. They are now in talks with the OPS Prime Asset Ventures Inc of the Villar group. Talks are expected to be completed in September and by then, the airport will be up for ‘Swiss challenge’.

Other airports that have OPS is Puerto Princesa airport, also by the Villar group, and Kalibo airport by Mega77 Construction Corp. Davao airport is set also set to be privatized, but there is no OPS yet.

Lim added that they plan to privatize the operations of all airports in the Philippines making the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) a regulatory body. DOTr will implement the “sweet and sour” approach as they plan to bundle airports for public-private partnerships. Bundles would include a big airport and other smaller airports.

“Other airports remain candidates, of course, General Santos, Busuanga, even Bacolod, Bicol. These are the bigger airports--Laoag, Tacloban. These are big airports by themselves. They can be the central airport to bundle with,” Lim said.

DOTr clarified that timelines may still changed depending on the speed of talks of various groups. But he is hopeful the operations and maintenance of airports can be transferred to the private sector to improve the facilities better and allow the government to focus its resources to more pressing matters.

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