MANILA — Tech tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy expressed strong confidence that his consortium’s revised ₱33-billion public-private partnership (PPP) proposal to manage the country’s air navigation services (ANS) will secure government greenlight, driven by a partnership with a premier global operator.
Uy, who serves as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of ComClark Network and Technology Corporation, announced that his company has secured an agreement with England-based air traffic control provider NATS to spearhead the ambitious project.
“Before you enter the PPP [public-private partnership], you should have a strong track record to operate this kind of sensitive operation. So the best operators in the world, we need to get one to partner with us,” Uy said.
The current bid represents ComClark’s third consecutive annual attempt to win the air traffic management concession. Previous proposals were submitted in 2024 amounting to ₱29.82 billion, followed by a ₱31.55-billion joint bid in 2025 alongside the Gokongwei group’s JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corporation and Tan-led Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation (AEDC), both of which faced rejection.
According to Uy, the setback last year stemmed from their former collaboration with Spain-based air navigation operator ENAIRE, a government-linked entity.
“ENAIRE is a government agency, they are a regulator. [Based on] the specs of the PPP, you don’t bring a regulator to your partner. What we need to bring is a strong operator company. So that’s the reason behind the delay,” Uy explained.
With NATS now on board—a prominent public-private entity managing navigation across 15 UK airports and global territories—Uy noted that their latest proposal is running smoothly.
When asked about the project’s timeline, he confirmed that they are “on track” while undergoing a formal 90-day evaluation by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the PPP Code.
The comprehensive proposal entails operating and maintaining nationwide ANS assets, upgrading obsolete equipment, and constructing a brand-new air traffic management system and aviation training center to boost the Philippines’ airspace efficiency.