EXECUTIVES of the only company eligible to bid for the North Harbor’s privatization failed to appear at a Friday meeting after the government said that the auction remains suspended until after a court instructs them to proceed.

Leopoldo F. Bungubung, head of the committee in charge of the facility’s privatization, told reporters Monday that the whole process remains pending because a case lodged against the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is still being heard. Filed by Harbour Centre Port Terminals Inc., the case asked a Manila court to compel the PPA to proceed with the privatization process even with just a lone bidder.

However, Bungubung, who is also the PPA’s Manila port district chief, refused to answer most questions regarding the case, especially since the agency previously said that it will proceed with the bidding even with just one eligible bidder.

Besides refusing to answer questions regarding the case and the agency’s relationship with the port operator, Bungubung only said that the PPA would continue undertaking the needed port developments even with the ongoing case.

Last week, Harbour Centre officials said they would appear during the pre-bid session, scheduled on October 5, and will also submit its bid by next week.

For the past two months, the privatization process remained idle after the PPA declared a bidding failure when Harbour Centre and its partner, Metro Pacific Investment Corp. emerged as the single entity eligible to bid for the 25-year contract to manage the North Harbor.

If it succeeds in winning the contract, Harbour Centre, which will own 65 percent of the joint venture entity with Metro Pacific, will be the Philippines’ largest terminal operator by volume. 

The closest competitor was Asian Terminals Inc., the operator of the Manila South Harbor, but it failed to secure eligibility.

To date, the lower court is still hearing the Mandamus petition filed by Harbour Centre, which already secured a copy of the privatization’s terms of reference. To be auctioned off are the port’s container terminal, general cargo terminal, and passenger terminal complex, which will be considered as one operational area.

Harbor sale remains suspended

EXECUTIVES of the only company eligible to bid for the North Harbor’s privatization failed to appear at a Friday meeting after the government said that the auction remains suspended until after a court instructs them to proceed.

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