Etiqueta: Philippines airports

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Philippines: Award of crucial airport projects seen in early ’19

With roughly a month to go before the end of the year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) acknowledged that the final awarding of key private sector-proposed airport projects in Manila and Bulacan could be completed by early 2019 at the soonest.
Transportation Undersecretary for planning Reuben Reinoso yesterday said the two projects—San Miguel Corp.’s P800-billion international airport in Bulacan province and Naia Consortium’s P102-billion offer to modernize and operate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport—had yet to be cleared by the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority.

The two projects form part of the DOTr’s so-called multiairport policy, which aims to address worsening congestion in Naia, the Philippines’ main gateway.
The go-ahead of the Neda-ICC will be followed by the approval of the Neda Board, which is chaired by President Duterte. As unsolicited proposals, the final step is a bidding process known as Swiss Challenge, which requires at least 60 days.
Reinoso said they were still targeting to launch the Swiss Challenge, wherein rival bidders would be allowed to submit offers, before the end of 2018. But he explained that this would depend on when the projects would be approved by the Neda ICC.
Reinoso said the offer of Naia Consortium, a group of seven conglomerates, remained with the Neda-ICC pending the submission of additional documents by the Manila International Airport Authority.
He added that the concession agreement for SMC’s airport offer was being reviewed by the Department of Finance and Office of the Solicitor General. It will then be handed over to the Neda-ICC for “reconfirmation.”
Naia Consortium and SMC hold original proponent status (OPS) for their respective projects. This means they both carry a big advantage during the Swiss Challenge. OPS holders can still win the project because they have the right to match rivals with better bids.
Naia Consortium’s members are Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Its technical partner is Changi Airports International.
Through a 15-year concession, Naia Consortium wants to increase capacity in Naia to around 65 million passengers yearly in four years. This is double the existing design capacity of 31 million passengers a year. Naia’s four passenger terminals served 42 million passengers in 2017.
On the other hand, SMC is planning a brand-new airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, that will have as many as six parallel runways and a capacity of over 100 million passengers yearly.

Another key part of the multiairport strategy is Clark International Airport, Pampanga’s gateway that is currently being expanded under the public-private partnership scheme.

Source: Inquirer Net

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Philippines: High Priority ‘Build Build Build’ airport projects seen to vitalize PH aviation industry

In line with the administration’s ambitious Build Build Build program, 28 airport projects for construction/rehabilitation/ upgrade are listed in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) priority agenda. Of the 28, three international airport projects – Lal-Lo, Puerto Prinsesa, and Mactan-Cebu –  and four domestic airport projects – Tuguegarao, Calbayog, Ozamis, and Naga – have already been finished.

The Clark International Airport expansion project is due to be completed on June 2020.

These projects are projected to upgrade the country’s aviation industry, and will ensure greater regional accessibility. In the long run, this will propel a sustained economic growth through an improved and more convenient movement of people and products, and generate quality jobs for Filipinos.

Night-rating of airports
Equipping airports with night-rating capabilities allows them to accommodate evening flights, thereby increasing their daily service capacity. As of October 2018, 20 out of the existing 42 airports nationwide have already been night-rated. In 2017, four airports – Legaspi, Roxas, Dumaguete, and Caticlan – were equipped with night-rating capabilities. And early this year, the Tuguegarao airport has also been night-rated.

Four more airports – Naga, Dipolog, Cotabato, and Cauayan – are targeted to be completed this year.

Construction of new airports
With a 2.1-kilometer runway to accommodate heavier aircrafts, the Lal-lo International Airport in Cagayan commenced operations last March 2018. With this, the airport is now capable of catering to commercial jet aircrafts and other heavier aircrafts, besides chartered flights. The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) also aims to fast-track the construction of the remaining runway facilities for smoother and safer flights.

Meanwhile, the the Bohol Panglao International Airport is scheduled for inauguration on November 22, 2018.

NAIA Rehabilitation
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is also in line for rehabilitation. The four-year project involves improvements and expansion of terminals, as well as the construction of additional runways, taxiways, passenger terminals and other support infrastructure.

This P101 Billion upgrade is seen to benefit 65 million passengers per year, and will be funded through unsolicited proposal, subject to Swiss challenge.

Notably, through this administration’s efforts, NAIA, the country’s main international airport, has risen from being dubbed as one of the world’s worst airports into the 10th most-improved airport in the world. (DBM).

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Govt needs investors to build new Zambo airport

The construction of a new world-class airport in the city will depend upon the buy-in of large scale investors, an official from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) says.
«The funding (for the airport) will be the fruit of a public-private partnership,» said Raymond Peter Esperat, MinDA’s Development Management Officer. «But we still have to look for investors.»
The initial estimated project cost is around Php9.87-Billion, a report from the City Government reveals.
This new airport to be sited 17 kilometers away from the city proper in barangay Mercedes-Talabaan is eyed to be world-class with state of the art facilities. International flights starting with Malaysia and Indonesia are to be expected with more passengers and cargo movements.
Local government officials believe that this new airport,when completed, will usher in more development opportunities, bring in more tourists and ease the traffic situation in the city proper.
Asked on a possible timeline for the completion of this project, Mr. Esperat said, «it’s too early to say.» Currently, a team of engineers from a private firm has been contracted to undertake a feasibility study of the project site.
Earlier this year, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the airport is expected to be completed within 4-5 years.
In addition to the airport, proposed projects that are seen to benefit the city include the construction of the Zamboanga Ecozone Port and the TransMindanao High Speed Railway System Project. But Esperat says the timeline is still «too early to tell,» and adds that these projects, including the new Zamboanga airport are priorities of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Source: Malayia Sun

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Philippines: DOTr pushing for dev’t of new airports to complement NAIA, Clark

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is pushing for the development of other gateways to complement the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Clark International Airport (CRK).

At least two airport development projects are now being prioritized — building a new airport in Bulacan and developing the Sangley airport in Cavite. This airport complementation strategy is aimed at decongesting NAIA, give travelers more options, and spread development across Luzon.

“The idea of having multiple airports is something that the world’s biggest economies do. Ideally, there should be a train service linking these airports, which is also being pursued by the government. This complementation strategy was already part of the air transport roadmap from day one, and rest assured, that’s what we are going to do,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The new Bulacan airport, an unsolicited proposal from the San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), was approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board last April 25, subject to resolution of pending issues, including a submission of “Joint and Several Liability” agreement by SMHC and its parent company.

After submitting the revised Concession Agreement, along with the Risk Allocation Matrix, the NEDA and the Department of Finance (DOF) submitted their comments last August 9, and are now under consideration of SMHC. After which, the DOTr will commence negotiations with SMHC to finalize the draft Concession Agreement and submit the same to NEDA Investment Coordination Committee, and begin the Swiss Challenge process.

The proposal includes the building of four parallel runways and a passenger terminal with 100 million passengers capacity per year.

Meanwhile, the DOTr also welcomes the proposal of the provincial government of Cavite to develop the Sangley Airport. The approval process, however, will be defined after the Cavite LGU has determined the legal framework for its implementation.

While these projects are being developed, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Board has already approved the grant of original proponent status to the NAIA Consortium for the airport’s rehabilitation project. The concession period will run for 15 years.

Apart from these airports in Luzon, Tugade said several other airports are undergoing various stages of implementation. Among them is the new Bohol (Panglao) airport, which will be opened within the year. The Bicol International Airport in Albay is now also being constructed after 11 years of delay. The Siargao and Bukidnon airports are also in the works.

“Apart from these new gateways, we are improving our existing provincial airports. We are extending and expanding runways, building new passenger terminal buildings, and generally improving the facilities,” Tugade said. (DOTr PR)

Source: Philippine News Agency