The government of Philippines, through the PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao, has announced plans to combine the upgrade and operation and maintenance of six airports into a single PPP contract.

According to Mr. Canilao, the government has plans to issue the invitation to prequalify in December, with plans of bidding out the contract in January next year. On Tuesday's Philippines Investment Conference she stated:

It would be for a single tender but it can be done in two tranches, just like we did for the schools.

The six airports are the following:

• Puerto Princesa Airport,
• Davao Airport,
• Bacolod Airport,
• Iloilo Airport,
• New Bohol (Panglao), and
• Laguindingan airport

The first four airport projects were approved in late October by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) together with the Davao Sasa Port and the Regional Prison Facilities PPP projects.

The last two airport projects were also approved by the NEDA in late June together with the Laguna Lakeshore expressway and dike project which is the biggest PPP project approved so far.

The government's decision to combine six airports concessions into a single PPP project aims to make it more attractive to potential investors.

The latest airport PPP project awarded in Philippines was the Mactan - Cebu International Airport New passenger terminal. The project was awarded in April this year to a consortium formed by India's GMR Infrastructure and local contractor Megawide Construction Corporation.