CLARK FREE PORT, Pampanga—The opening of the bids for the development of the $142-million Terminal 2 for the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here is set to be opened on September 22, a top official of the Clark International Airport Corp. said Thursday.

CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said the opening of bids of the local and foreign companies interested to be the joint-venture partner of the state-run airport firm will be done at 2 p.m. at the Mimosa Convention Center.

The date and time are also the deadline for the submission of bids by private-sector participants who would want to participate in the bidding.

The terms of reference stipulates that the joint-venture partner shall “design, finance, construct and operate” the $142-million, or around P6.5-billion, DMIA terminal to accommodate long-haul airliners and handle 7 million to 8 million passengers annually.

Initially, 11 potential bidders expressed interest to participate in CIAC’s auction for the development of the airport terminal. The project is expected to be completed by January 31, 2010.

CIAC executive vice president and chief operating officer Alexander Cauguiran, chairman of the Joint Venture Special Committee handling the Terminal 2 Project bidding, said the committee has invited the public to observe the proceedings.

“To ensure transparency and the integrity of the bidding, the opening of bids is open to the public,” Cauguiran said.

The DMIA Terminal 2 Project is being implemented in accordance with President Arroyo’s vision to make the DMIA the country’s premier international airport and a world-class logistics and service hub.

In January this year the President declared the DMIA as the country’s premier gateway, an announcement that paved the way for the full development of the airport.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific is undertaking the necessary preparations for the launch in November of its international flights from the DMIA to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Macau.

Starting November 8, Cebu Pacific will fly daily to Singapore and Hong Kong, and four times a week to Bangkok and Singapore and, at the same time, start the daily operation of its Clark-Cebu flights starting October 1.

Airline officials also announced plans to expand domestic operations at DMIA by mounting flights to key cities in the country.

Luciano said Cebu Pacific, the first major local carrier to operate international flights at the DMIA, has, at the same time, designated the Clark airport as its fourth major hub in the Philippines.

The DMIA currently averages 50 flights a week but the number is expected to increase with the entry of more airlines as the terminal is developed and CIAC officials secure entitlements from air talks.

Luciano said overseas Filipino workers from Northern and Central Luzon will benefit from the availability of international flights at DMIA.

Airlines operating at the DMIA include Tiger Airways of Singapore, Air Asia of Malaysia, Korea’s Asiana Airlines and Southeast Asian Airlines.

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Bids for DMIA Terminal 2 project to be opened Monday

CLARK FREE PORT, Pampanga—The opening of the bids for the development of the $142-million Terminal 2 for the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here is set to be opened on September 22, a top official of the Clark International Airport Corp. said Thursday.

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