2 groups eye Iloilo airport deal

Two private entities — Prime Assets Venture Inc. of the Villar Group and Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. of the Aboitiz Group — have submitted unsolicited proposals to take on the redevelopment and expansion of the Iloilo International Airport.

"There are two interested parties now, the Prime (Assets) of Villar (Group) and the Aboitiz Infrastructure. I do not know what will happen but we are pushing for this. Whoever wins does not matter, we just need to finish this," Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in an interview with reporters last week.

Treñas said the city has been eyeing to take on a Public-Private Partnership or PPP venture for the Iloilo International Airport, which serves as a vital gateway of the Visayas region to and from other parts of the country.

"We are also pushing for the PPP for the airport. Like recently, I wrote a letter asking for almost P200 million for the asphalt overlay, the runway needs repair. We need to do asphalt overlay and there are air-conditioning units that need to be repaired as well as escalators and elevators," the mayor said.

The letter was sent to the office of Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services.

The proposed expansion of the Iloilo Airport includes upgrading the passenger terminal building or PTB, construction of an apron adjacent to the PTB, installation of the required equipment for the passenger services, and modernization of the appurtenant facilities.

To recall, the Regional Development Council's Infrastructure Development Committee, chaired by Treñas, passed a resolution to urge the national government to step in and hasten the review of the unsolicited proposals to start the much-needed airport overhaul.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry — Iloilo Chapter Inc. or PCCI-Iloilo had already decried the "dire need to expand and improve our primary International and Domestic Gateways to the Western Visayas region namely, our Iloilo International Airport and Iloilo International Seaport."

"PCCI-Iloilo is appealing and encouraging all concerned authorities to fast-track expansion and improvements of both the Iloilo International Airport and Iloilo International Seaport," PCCI-Iloilo president Fulbert Woo said.

"These may be done through additional government fund allocations and/or Public-Private Partnership Agreements. The urgent attention to this appeal will surely catalyze increased investments, business growth, employment, and tourism for Iloilo and our neighboring provinces," he added.

The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation Inc. or ILED Advocates had also urged the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or CAAP "for swift action to enhance the deteriorating state of Iloilo International Airport."

Based on government data, the airport experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic, which reached a substantial volume of 3.4 million, alongside a cargo movement of 4.2 million in 2022.

The Iloilo International Airport was one of the 10 regional airports that the Department of Transportation previously said would be upgraded, expanded, and operated under the PPP scheme.