An official of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) disclosed that the unsolicited proposal to modernize the Davao International Airport (DIA) by Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corporation of Dabawenyo businessman Dennis Uy is undergoing evaluation at the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Secretariat of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso bared this development in an email interview on Saturday. However, Reinoso added that at the moment they cannot give a timeline for the completion of the evaluation.
Chelsea Logistics was awarded Original Proponent Status for its proposal that includes the development, operation, and management of DIA over a concession period of 30 years.
Reinoso said Chelsea has revised financial proposal for the project due to the pandemic and that DoTr has accepted the revised proposal and correspondingly endorsed it to NEDA-ICC for their consideration and approval.
“I cannot disclose it (revision details) due to its proprietary nature as mandated by law,” he said when asked to cite some revisions done in the proposal.
NEDA-ICC issued clearance to the unsolicited proposal to modernize DIA in December last year, which gave Chelsea the green light to commence negotiations with the DOTr on the terms of its plan to modernize DIA, which is the primary gateway to Mindanao.
The rehabilitation aims to increase international traffic thus the proponent plans to partner with an airport operator with an international network to facilitate new route development by working with the government to develop new routes.
The proposed developments for DIA include a parallel taxiway, reconfiguration and expansion of the passenger terminal building, land-side and air-side improvements, and introduction of new airport information technology (IT).
