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TOURISM CHIEF WELCOMES PPP AIRPORT PROJECTS FOR BOHOL, DUMAGUETE, SIARGAO
With the projection of more visitors coming and more opportunities for communities in tourist destinations, the Department of Tourism (DOT) lauded the plans to build new airports in Dumaguete City and on the island of Siargao and transfer the management of the Bohol Panglao International Airport, through public-private partnership (PPP).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, along with other government officials and executives from the private sector, witnessed the signing of the future airport projects to be carried out through PPP at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday (December 18).
Other initiatives under the Build Better More ticket that were also signed by the President to improve trade and tourism in the country include the building of a new and modern Cebu International Container Port and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project, which will provide Cebuanos, including tourists, with a reliable, efficient transport system.
“We commend the Marcos administration and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for their visionary leadership in facilitating these transformative projects. The involvement of Aboitiz InfraCapital in the Bohol Panglao International Airport management, with an investment of P4.5 billion, alongside the partnerships for the new airports with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is a testament to our commitment to bolster the country’s tourism sector,” Secretary Frasco said.
The Tourism Chief added, “The initiatives align seamlessly with our National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028, where we prioritize improved connectivity, convenience, and equality as foundational aspects of our tourism development strategy. Enhanced infrastructure not only improves accessibility but also ensures that our visitors enjoy a welcoming experience from the moment they arrive in the Philippines.”
Secretary Frasco also emphasized the importance of airports as “vital gateways for travelers, representing both the first and last impressions they will have of our country.”
“Consequently, it is imperative that we improve and modernize these critical points of entry. This undertaking will surely complement our ongoing efforts to enhance air routes and increase the number of available air seats, which ultimately drives more visitors to our beautiful destinations,” she said.
“This greatly complements the efforts of the Department to improve air routes and add air seats,” she added.
She also declared the DOT’s full commitment to working collaboratively with other government agencies, particularly the DOTr, as well as local government units, noting that “Our collective goal is to ensure that these infrastructure projects create lasting positive impacts for tourists, local businesses, and the communities that thrive through tourism.”
Under the agreement involving the Bohol Panglao International Airport, Aboitiz Capital will take over the management of the country’s first “eco-airport” starting June 2025. The airport was inaugurated in 2018 and contains green and sustainable features such as natural ventilation and solar power.
According to President Marcos Jr., the turnover of the management of the Bohol Panglao International Airport – to be done in two phases until 2030 – will result in a surge in its capacity, accommodating more aircraft passengers. “By 2026, its capacity will increase from two million to 2.5 million passengers a year, and by 2030 we will reach almost four million passengers,” he said in his speech.
He added that more tourists coming to Bohol through the Bohol-Panglao International Airport would mean “we can provide seamless travel to a lot of tourists, which translates to more jobs for Boholanos, especially in the hotel and restaurant industries.” “This project is expected to generate P15 million in annual revenue during its first five years, rising to 200 million a year by the end of the concession period.”
Data from the Bohol Panglao International Airport as of November 3, 2024, revealed that aside from flights from Manila, Clark, Iloilo, Davao, and El Nido in Palawan, it hosts flights from four airlines in airports in Incheon and Busan, South Korea.
Meanwhile, the PPP projects that aim to modernize the airports in Dumaguete and Siargao would be the DOTr’s “first bundled PPP project wherein more viable projects will be leveraged to mobilize private sector investments and expertise into less viable assets,” explained Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The government recognized both Dumaguete – a long-established “center for education and commerce that is rich in history and culture” – and world-renowned surfing destination Siargao “face the same challenge that is limited connectivity,” according to the President.
“The new Dumaguete airport will create more opportunities for students, workers, and businesses, while the new Siargao airport will help support tourism and trade,” he added.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that the current Siargao airport could host an average of 28 to 30 flights from three airlines every day in December 2024. According to the DOT, Siargao welcomed 529,822 tourists in 2023 and 325,053 visitors from January to September 2024.
In coming up with such PPP projects for airports in the Philippines, the Chief Executive declared, “Let us remember these projects are not just structures. They are representative of every Filipino’s dream of more comfortable travel, better opportunities, and a clearer path towards their goals and dreams.”
The new PPP projects for airports came following the turnover of the management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation, as well as the signing of the concession agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital for the Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, according to the DOTr.
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Published:December 18, 2024
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