The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is targeting to start the tenders of at least eight key infrastructure contracts totaling about P74.11 billion in the next few months, a government official said. Transportation Undersecretary for Planning Rene K. Limcaoco said his agency aims to publish within the year the invitations to bid for the eight contracts that involve the construction of ports and airports, as well as the development of a facility for the inspection of motor vehicles.
He outlined the contracts to be tendered as:
■ P5.88-billion Davao Airport Expansion and Operations and Maintenance (O&M);
■ P4.03-billion Iloilo Airport Expansion and O&M;
■ P3.16-billion Bacolod Airport Expansion and O&M;
■ P2.26-billion Laguindingan Airport Expansion and O&M;
■ P11.71-billion New Bohol Airport Development and O&M;
■ P10.27-billion Puerto Princesa Expansion and O&M;
■ P17.47-billion Davao Sasa
Port; and
■ P19.33-billion Motor Vehicle Inspection System.
Limcaoco presented these projects to the participants of the United Kingdom Transport Solutions Business Forum that was held on Thursday in Makati City. The discussion highlighted the need for increased efficiency in transport infrastructure as it is crucial to delivering sustainable and inclusive growth. The forum was attended by 12 potential investors, six from the UK and the other six Filipino firms, some of which are prominent in the public-private partnership (PPP) scene.
Transportation Undersecretary for Legal Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla urged these investors to seriously look into the deals being offered by the government.
“In the Philippine transportation sector, the biggest challenges include the need to fill the infrastructure gap and deliver services to ensure mobility in a fast-growing country. We are increasingly known around the world as one of the most robust economies in the region and a preferred tourist destination, creating an urgent demand for world-class transport facilities operated with high standards for efficiency,” he said.
“This is especially true in Metro Manila, which, like most metropolitan cities, has urbanization. We believe that such situation makes transportation in the Philippines an extremely viable sector for public-private partnerships,” Lotilla stressed.
He assured investors of the commercial viability of the deals, as reflected by the premium bids that the transportation agency received in its recent auctions.
“We take it as a sign that our projects are viable and commercially sound. We also believe that such strong participation in our PPP program is an indication that there are plenty of notable Philippine corporations that are ready and able to partner with foreign companies who wish to bring their business to the country,” said Lotilla, who also chairs the agency’s bids and awards committee.