The Department of Transportation confirmed that the potential private sector partner for the rehabilitation and modernization of Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as Davao International Airport, will likely be awarded original proponent status by 2026. The development is part of the government’s infrastructure agenda, positioning Mindanao’s primary aviation hub for a world-class transformation under a Public-Private Partnership scheme. The airport is on track for a multi-billion-peso overhaul, which is expected to boost the region’s economic competitiveness and align its aviation infrastructure with global standards. Three major conglomerates, including Singapore’s Changi Airport Group, have submitted proposals to modernize, operate, and maintain the airport. The modernization of Davao International Airport is part of a broader Bundled Airports Project, which includes the development, operation, and maintenance of three major regional airports. The project will be implemented under a Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer arrangement, with a 30-year concession period for Davao International Airport and the Southern Luzon International Airport, and a 15-year concession for Sayak Airport. The Philippine Regional Airports Consortium submitted a proposal worth P16.048 billion, which includes terminal expansion, new facilities, modernized systems, and upgraded infrastructure. The Department of Transportation has earmarked P650 million for the expansion of DIA’s terminal building, which is expected to increase passenger seating capacity and generate more than 4,000 construction jobs. Once the original proponent status is awarded, the project will advance to the comparative selection stage, where other interested proponents may submit competing offers. The modernization of Davao International Airport is expected to signal a new era for Mindanao’s economic ambitions, with the airport expected to stand as one of the region’s most competitive aviation gateways, capable of meeting global standards and driving sustained growth across southern Philippines.
