ILOILO City – The long-envisioned major expansion of the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo has been thrown into uncertainty. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) rejected the P21-billion unsolicited proposal of Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI), forcing the government to consider shifting to a different mode of public-private partnership for the project.
The rejection stemmed from deficiencies in the proposal’s documentation, particularly the absence of an endorsement to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), a requirement for projects exceeding P15 billion, according to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) deputy director-general Danjun Lucas.
The airport expansion aims to address passenger congestion that worsens during peak flight arrivals.
Lucas said the Villar-led PAVI may still refile its proposal, although he disclosed that the DOTr is now seriously considering pursuing the airport project through the solicited mode instead.
Under a solicited public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, the government initiates the project and opens it to competitive bidding after setting the terms and coverage.
This differs from unsolicited proposals, which are initiated by private entities.
The planned expansion comes as the airport now handles 35 to 40 flights daily, both domestic and international, straining terminal facilities — particularly when four to five aircraft arrive almost simultaneously, each carrying about 200 passengers.
The DOTr and CAAP were designated as implementing agencies for the rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and maintenance of the airport under an operate-and-transfer scheme.
PAVI had earlier been named the original proponent for the project, which included the expansion and renovation of the passenger terminal building.
Despite the setback involving the larger P21-billion proposal, the national government continues to pour funds into airport upgrades.
The DOTr previously allocated more than P190 million under its 2024 General Appropriations Act for airport enhancement works. These include a P132.90-million rehabilitation and improvement project for the passenger terminal building involving structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and equipment upgrades.
Another P37.55-million project covers the supply, installation, and commissioning of three new 600-kilowatt chillers aimed at improving temperature control inside the terminal.
At present, the passenger terminal building can accommodate 367 domestic and 360 international passengers for a total of 727 passengers at a time.
After the completion of ongoing and planned improvements, capacity is expected to increase to 675 domestic passengers and 407 international passengers.
Iloilo International Airport is situated on 188 hectares of land covering barangays Tabucan, Tiring, Gaub, Duyan-Duyan, and Manguna in Cabatuan.
The airport complex consists of a single runway, various administrative and maintenance buildings, waste-sorting and water-treatment facilities, a power-generating station, a cargo terminal, and a main passenger terminal.
The airport opened in 2007. The main passenger terminal was designed to accommodate only 400 to 450 passengers only./PN
