Six groups yesterday submitted qualification documents for the Philippines' regional airports project under the public-private partnership (PPP) program.

The groups which submitted pre-qualification documents are:

• San Miguel Holdings Corp. and Incheon International Airport Corp.;
• Philippine Airports Consortium: Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Aeroports de Paris Management S.A. and TAV Havalimanlari Holdings A.S.;
• Union Equities;
• GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Consortium;
• Sojitz, Jatco and Filinvest; and
• Maya Consortium: Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and VINCI Airports.

The submission of qualification documents took place despite a stay order issued by the Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC).

While the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) was served a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Davao Regional Trial Court on the project, the DOTC decided to proceed with the qualification process as scheduled citing that under existing laws, an RTC can only issue an injunction within its judicial region.

A DOTC official said that the RTC is no longer valid. "We have to wait for the advice of the Office of the Solicitor General."

These PPP projects involve the development, operations and maintenance of the five regional airports. The concession period will be 30 years.

The development, operation and maintenance of the airports have been tendered as follows:

• Package A consists of Iloilo and Bacolod-Silay airports. The cost is estimated at  P50 billion (US$1.1 million).
• Package B consists of the Davao, Laguindingan, and New Bohol (Panglao) airports. The cost is estimated at P60 billion (US$1.3 billion).

The private partner will provide additional facilities and other necessary improvements to enhance passenger safety, security, access, passenger and cargo movement efficiency, and operational efficiency as well as actively market the airports in order to develop direct international passenger traffic and diversify revenue sources.