ComClark, JG Summit submit P33-B air navigation proposal

DENNIS ANTHONY H. UY-LED ComClark Network and Technology Corp. has partnered with JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp. for a P33-billion unsolicited proposal to manage the country’s air navigation services. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has deemed the consortium’s proposal complete and endorsed it to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Sept. 23, according to the PPP Center’s website. The proposal covers the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of air navigation services nationwide. It includes air traffic services, air navigation infrastructure, and the maintenance of air traffic services and communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment, the PPP Center said. “The project shall cover ANS nationwide. Key service areas include air traffic management, CNS, aeronautical information, flight calibration, airfield lighting, civil aviation training, meteorological services support, and search and rescue, serving the aviation industry and users of the country’s airspace,” the PPP Center said. The proposal also covers the operation and maintenance of existing air navigation centers and the acquisition and installation of communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for new airports, according to the agency. The PPP Center said the project is intended to improve air transport efficiency, establish new facilities, and optimize airspace management. In 2024, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) rejected an earlier P29.82-billion unsolicited proposal from ComClark to manage the country’s air navigation, traffic, and control system. ComClark is the controlling shareholder of listed telecommunications company Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. The PPP Center said ComClark later resubmitted the proposal after partnering with JG Summit Infrastructure and Asia’s Emerging Dragon. The consortium’s earlier resubmission was valued at P31.55 billion. Separately, the DoTr is studying a solicited public-private partnership for air traffic and air navigation services. The planned project is still under study preparation, according to the PPP Center. “The project aims to improve aviation safety, increase efficiency, and contribute to aviation industry growth. The project will also allow faster response to growing airspace demand by both increasing the capacity of radars and communication facilities, enabling Philippine carriers to expand capacity,” the agency said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose