MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to start the development of the Clark International Airport instead of pursuing the unsolicited proposals received from the private sector.

“We would rather start it,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters.

Tugade said the agency is also looking at the possibility of using the hybrid formula for the project.

Under the hybrid formula, the government would build the infrastructure and the operations and maintenance would later be bid out to the private sector.

Tugade said he would be talking to parties that have submitted proposals to develop the Clark International Airport to discuss the government’s plan.

The group of GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India and Megawide Construction Corp. submitted a P200 billion proposal to the government to develop the Clark International Airport.

Under the P187-billion proposal of JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp., meanwhile, the consortium wants to develop the Clark International Airport over a period of 50 years to handle up to 36 million passengers per annum.

The government is promoting the Clark International Airport as an alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Amid congestion at NAIA, other parties have also submitted proposals to develop a new airport.

All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. has earlier announced a plan to build an international airport, seaport as well as mixed-use development on reclaimed land off the coast of Sangley Point in Cavite.

San Miguel Corp. has also proposed to build a new international airport for Metro Manila.

Asked about the two proposals for a new airport, Tugade said the priority of the government now is to develop Clark and renovate the NAIA.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/05/08/1697639/dotr-set-pursue-clark-airport-development