ILOILO City – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) were urged to expedite the review of the unsolicited proposals for the expansion and upgrading of the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
The Regional Development Council’s Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC-IDC) chaired by Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, during its recent meeting, passed a resolution relative to this.
The airport experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic, reaching a substantial volume of 3.4 million, alongside a cargo movement of 4.2 million in 2022.
With the potential resumption of international flights and relaxation of travel restrictions, further growth at the airport is expected requiring expansion and upgrading to meet the demands of a rising influx of passengers, the IDC pointed out.
According to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, two interested investors submitted unsolicited proposal (USP) to the DOTr for the proposed project.
The proposed expansion of the Iloilo Airport centered on the upgrading of the passenger terminal building (PTB), construction of an apron adjacent to the PTB, installation of the required equipment for the passenger services, and modernization of the appurtenant facilities.
One of the investors, Prime Asset Venture, Inc., submitted a USP to the DOTr amounting to P6.89 billion.
The DOTr and CAAP have likewise received another USP from Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) for the upgrade, expansion, operation, and maintenance of the Iloilo Airport in the amount of P9.95 billion.
“In expediting the evaluation process of both USPs and promptly engaging in negotiations with the proponents, it is anticipated that favorable outcomes will be achieved, facilitating the successful financing and subsequent implementation of the project,” read part of the RDC-IDC resolution.
It emphasized that the airport expansion is vital in the local and international fob creation, trade and tourism of Western Visayas, which posted the highest economic growth rate among all regions in 2022 at 9.3 percent, exceeding the national average of 7.2 percent.
Treñas has been supportive of the plan to privatize the Iloilo Airport.
“Whoever will get it, you know, ang aton da interest para sa kaayuhan sang aton nga mga pumoluyo nga naga-usar,” he said.
The city mayor, however, said Ilonggos will have to wait for a long time before the CAAP can conduct preventive maintenance on the airport.
Engr. Eusebio F. Monserate Jr., area manager of CAAP Region 6, disclosed that the purchase of equipment for the maintenance of the airport’s air-conditioning and chillers would take time because of the procurement process./PN