The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to open the bidding process for the operation and management of Davao International Airport (DIA) by the first half of 2025, as part of its broader initiative to enhance regional aviation infrastructure beyond Metro Manila.
Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista confirmed that the department is currently finalizing the terms of reference for the project, according to a report from BusinessWorld.
The DOTr recently partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) through a transaction advisory service agreement to determine the optimal approach for upgrading, expanding, operating, and maintaining the facility.
Bautista said the DoTr prefers a solicited mode as it will be faster than an unsolicited one.
“Just like NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), it only took about 13 months. Unlike unsolicited proposals, which will take about two years,” the transport czar said, as quoted by BusinessWorld.
DIA stands as the country’s third busiest airport after NAIA and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
The airport served 3.8 million passengers in 2023, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, slightly below its annual design capacity of 4 million. The airport’s peak year was 2019, with 4.49 million passengers.
However, with Cebu Pacific launching five new routes from Davao this year and other airlines adding more flights, the airport may exceed its design capacity of 4 million passengers.
The initiative is part of a larger airport development program by the DOTr, which includes other regional gateways such as Busuanga, Bacolod, Bicol, and General Santos.
The department recently awarded a P12.75-billion contract for Laguindingan International Airport to the Aboitiz Group, which is also anticipated to secure the P4.53-billion Bohol-Panglao International Airport contract.
Looking ahead to 2024, the DOTr aims to award development contracts for Iloilo (P20.85 billion), Puerto Princesa (P10.24 billion), and Kalibo (P3.62 billion) airports, INQUIRER.net reported.
The department has also received a P12 billion budget allocation for 2025 to support various airport development projects nationwide.
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