By LITO RULONA Correspondent MISAMIS Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez yesterday expressed his opposition to a supposed plan by the national government to privatize the Laguindingan airport. “This will affect everybody. If it a private company runs it, expect the fees to increase,” Pelaez said. He said he and members of the provincial board would formally raise their objection to the national government’s plan to privatize the airport in Laguindingan town through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). The plan is to privatize the airport along with five others across the country starting on October, Pelaez said. He said the bids were expected to be submitted next month in line with a broader goal to modernize airport facilities outside Metro Manila. According to a DOTC report, the “public-private partnership initiative” involves “bundled” airport projects in Bacolod-Silay, Davao, Iloilo, Laguindingan, New Bohol (Panglao) and Puerto Princesa. The airport deals have a combined development value of about P116 billion. Since the bid submission date is in October, the DOTC indicated that it could award the airport deals by November 2015 and sign the concession agreement, which runs 30 years, by December. Pelaez said he and other legislators in the province would demand for consultations with all stakeholders, including the local chambers of commerce and industry. “In Davao, stakeholders have already filed a case in court, and got their Temporary Restraining Order. Diri sa province, posible nga mao gihapon atong himoun diri aron mapugngan ang privatization,” Pelaez said. He said the move of the Aquino administration is untimely given that the President’s term would end next year. “This creates the impression that the administration is raising funds for the coming elections. The Laguindingan airport is operating profitably,” Pelaez said. Over DxIF-Bombo Radyo, Laguindingan airport manager Jose Bodiongan said the DOTC would pursue the “Private Partnership Program” (PPP) just like what it did with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.