Air traffic control next on tech tycoon's radar

Tech tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy has proposed a P30-billion plan to manage the country's air traffic in what could be his biggest government project yet.

- By ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

His Comclark Network and Technology Corp. is courting the government to approve its P29.82-billion bid to operate and maintain the country's air navigation facilities.

And the good news for Comclark is that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) seems interested in the project, deciding in August to proceed with the detailed evaluation, according to the website of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

Prior to this, the PPP Center checked the legal compliance of the proposal before endorsing it to CAAP for its own review.

If the proposal is deemed satisfactory, CAAP can award Comclark the original proponent status, giving it advantage to match comparative proposals later on.

Comclark, which is also the parent of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., wants to build new facilities for the communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS-ATM) of the Philippines. The project will be undertaken through a design, build, finance and operate scheme.