The Department of Transportation, or DoTr, plans to expand the regional airports in Western Visayas — a move that will position the region as a growing economic hub.

At the Philippine Economic Briefing organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Monday, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said his agency will drum up investments in the region and will particularly focus on airport-centered transport projects.

Bautista cited three airports that are up for expansion and privatization, which are the Iloilo, Kalibo  and Bacolod-Silay air hubs. These developments will be further complemented by the Panay Railway Project.

"DoTr is open to collaborating with private companies to bankroll these projects. The expansion of these airports will increase its passenger capacity and usher economic and tourism growth in each of the provinces," Bautista said.

Privatization plans unveiled

Aside from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the DoTr had prepared the Terms of Reference for the privatization of some of the country's provincial airports to boost the safety and availability of air transport throughout the country.

The government's airport privatization efforts are guided by the Amended 2022 Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, which provided more transparency to project contracts by determining the true cost of the projects to both the government and consumers.

While the DoTr is waiting for the submission of other interested proponents, Bautista said the DoTr is finalizing the Terms of Reference that will guide them in awarding contracts for the provincial airport redevelopment.

According to Bautista, the capabilities and expertise of the private sector can complement the government's airport undertakings to life.