Aboitiz bags original proponent status for Laguindingan Airport takeover

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group, bagged the original proponent status (OPS) for its P42.7-billion unsolicited proposal to take over the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

"The granting of the OPS for the Laguindingan Airport opens up an opportunity for us to play a major role in improving our country's vital gateways," said AIC chief operating officer Cosette Canilao.

The unsolicited proposal of AIC involves capacity augmentation through the expansion or construction of new passenger terminals, installation of required equipment, and the enhancement and development of airside facilities.

AIC in 2018 submitted proposals to take over the Laguindingan Airport and three other regional airports, under a 35-year concession period with the government.

With the OPS status awarded to AIC by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the project will then be subject to a Swiss Challenge — the method which entails inviting other firms to make competing offers, while giving the original proponent the right to match.

Apart from the regional airports, AIC is also part of the NAIA Consortium which was earlier granted the original proponent status for the P105-billion project to take over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KG, GMA News