DOTr Secretary Bautista: Government Pursuing Airport Privatization to Enhance Services

The Philippine government is progressing with plans to privatize several major airports, aiming to boost operational efficiency and regional development, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. This announcement followed the signing of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project Concession Agreement for Laguindingan International Airport.

Bautista specified that privatization initiatives include the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, where the Swiss challenge period will conclude on November 11, as well as the Iloilo International Airport, which recently concluded concessionaire negotiations and is pending approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). For Davao International Airport, the government recently secured advisory support from the International Finance Corporation to finalize terms for the PPP agreement.

Additionally, the government is exploring the privatization of Kalibo International Airport and has partnered with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to evaluate the potential privatization of seven to fifteen more airports across the country.

The Laguindingan Airport PPP, which received NEDA Board approval in July 2023, aims to expand and improve airport capacity over a 30-year period to support regional tourism and development in northern Mindanao.