Davao firm wins P148-M Malampaya, Recto Bank projects
A Davao-based construction firm won the bidding for the construction of hangars and bases to be used to secure the alampaya natural gas project and ecto eed an in the est Philippine ea.
The STAR learned over the wee end that the defense department issued a notice of award to icente . ao Construction, a firm based in Panacan, Davao City.
A notice of award signed by Defense ecretary oltaire a min last April showed that icente . ao had offered to underta e the project for P . million, well within the approved budget of P . million.
icente . ao offered the second lowest bid for the project, which attracted si bidders. he lowest bidder, E. . Cuerpo nc., offered P . million but was disqualified during the post-qualification phase.
nder the project, one unit each of search and rescue base and hangar will be built at anga- anga, awi- awi and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
he project also aims to support the maritime security and protection of the alampaya atural as-to-Power Project, eed an and the future of ulu Oil ig, according to a bid bulletin issued by the Department of ational Defense.
ecurity officials believe the basing project would improve the capabilities of the Air orce, boost its operational effectiveness, and build support systems for search and rescue efforts.
e are e pecting the arrival of new air assets. t s always good to have a place to house our assets, a security source who requested anonymity told The STAR yesterday.
he bases can help us protect our resources and boost our disaster response efforts, the source added.
he alampaya project is located in Palawan and is the source of power plants that provide electricity to a huge part of u on including etro anila.
eanwhile, ecto an or eed an is located within nautical miles from Palawan and is being considered as a site for e ploration projects.
he area is being claimed by China even if it is well within the country s e - clusive economic one.
n , two Chinese ships reportedly bullied a civilian vessel commissioned by the energy department while conducting an oil e ploration survey in the area.
he facilities will also secure projects in outh ulu ea, an area projected to yield potential oil reserves of million barrels, enough to cover the country s daily consumption in seven years.
icente ao is also one of the lowest bidders for one of the projects that see to improve the facilities in Oyster ay, an area facing the est Philippine ea.
he company offered to build the Oyster ay pier and harbor for P . million, lower than the approved budget of P . million.
he government, however, has yet to issue a notice of award for the project because of a case filed before the upreme Court.