DOTr postpones Sangley bidding
The Department of Transportation has postponed the bidding for the P552.87-million development of the Sangley Airport in Cavite as it needs time to thresh out issues on the project with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
“The Department of Transportation bid committee postponed the bidding for one month so that PRA and all the other agencies can clarify the situation,” Roberto Lim, transportation undersecretary for the air sector, said in a telephone interview yesterday.
The deadline of submission of bids was scheduled on Jan. 23.
Lim said the decision to postpone the bidding was made following a request from the PRA.
“The PRA has requested us to postpone because the PRA has an executive order (EO) giving them the mandate on the international seaport and logistics development for Sangley,” he said.
Under EO 629 issued on June 21, 2007 by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the PRA is directed to develop Sangley Point into an international logistics hub with container port and airport complex and an economic processing zone with cyber or technoparks through a private sector joint venture or Build- Operate- Transfer scheme.
Given the EO, the PRA has been talking to other private proponents who want to develop Sangley Point.
Lim said the DOTr has explained to the PRA the project being offered by the department does not involve the grand development of Sangley, but the repair of runways and drainage system, so it could contribute to efforts being undertaken to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The project offered for
bidding by the DOTr intends to alleviate air traffic congestion at NAIA by transferring general aviation services to the Sangley Airport.
It involves rehabilitation of the existing 2.4- kilometer runway, construction of ramp, drainage system, four hangars with a floor area of roughly 1,600- square meters ( sq. m) each, an 800-sq.m passenger terminal building with offices, vehicular parking area and other building facilities.
“It’s a very simple project…We believe our actions are consistent with improvement of Sangley,” Lim said.
While 12 firms have expressed interest to participate in the bidding for the DOTr’s project, he said the department is also open to the plan of other private proponents looking to develop Sangley Point.
“There are many proponents to who want to develop it. It’s fine. Ours is just to repair it to help decongest Manila,” he said.
All- Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. (ARRC) which is composed of the Tieng family and SM Group’s Belle Corp. has earlier said it intends to rehabilitate the present Danilo Atienza Airport in Sangley, as well as build a terminal and operate it to accommodate general aviation aircraft and low-cost carriers, at a cost of P1 billion.
The consortium is likewise looking to build an international airport, seaport as well as mixed use development on reclaimed land off the coast of Sangley Point in Cavite.
ARRC said it wants to help address congestion in Metro Manila as well as position the Philippines as a manufacturing and export hub in Asia through the Sangley integrated complex.