State-owned Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is bidding out contracts for the expansion and improvement of four provincial seaports this month.
PPA published the invitation to bid early this month and is set to open the bidding by end of July and early August this year for a total of more than P900 million contracts.
These projects are the P523-million Abra de Ilog Port expansion project; P216-million proposed extension of reinforced concrete (RC) wharf of Port of Lucena, Quezon; P62-million expansion of the Port of Culasi, Roxas, Capiz; and P183-million contract for the San Andres Port expansion project.
PPA’s bids and awards committee will hold a pre-bid conference on July 13 for the port projects in Capiz and Quezon, while the opening of bids is on July 29, 2021.
For the Abra de Ilog and San Andres expansion projects, pre-bid conference is on July 21 and bid opening is on August 3, 2021, according to PPA.
Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) together with PPA inaugurated the expanded and improved Port of Salomague in Cabugao as the government vowed to finish port development projects.
Among the port’s improved facilities which were completed last April by DOTr and PPA are the construction of the RC platform back-up area and the RC pier extension from 120 meters to 543 meters. Prior to its improvement, Salomague Port was in an unkempt and poorly maintained state.
Strategically located near the historical sites and beaches of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Salomague Port is eyed to be one of the country’s ports of call for cruise ships and is expected to increase cruise calls to the country with its proximity to the ports of Hong Kong and South China.
At least 71 local residents were given jobs during the construction of the project even as local job generation is expected to boom once the port starts its operation.
To date, DOTr said it has completed 446 seaport projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, while 117 seaport projects are under construction and set to be completed beyond 2022. – Myla Iglesias
