The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will be spending almost a billion pesos to develop and dredge 10 ports in different areas of the country.
In separate bid bulletins, PPA said it intends to spend P948.865 million under its 2017 corporate budget to fulfill development and dredging contracts for the ports of Zamboanga; Davao; Coron and Puerto Princesa in Palawan; Salomague in Ilocos Sur; Calapan and Roxas in Oriental Mindoro; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; Lamao in Bataan; and Tubigon in Bohol.
Of the total, P229.773 million is allotted for the expansion of Zamboanga port, which includes construction of an reinforced concrete (RC) platform, a back-up area, and a port lighting system.
About P185.447 million will be spent on the construction and offshore installation of marine navigation aids at the Davao entrance channel of the Davao Port, while P168.755 million will go to similar projects at the ports of Puerto Princesa and Coron in Palawan. Works proposed include the construction, delivery, and offshore installation of aids to marine navigation system; supply, construction, and delivery of the staging area for the solar-powered lighted buoy assembly; and offshore commissioning, testing, and observation of aids to marine navigation.
The port of Salomague in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, is allotted P152.197 million for the extension of the RC Pier and construction of a cruise ship berth. The port has been identified as an alternative cruise port in Region 1 and, recently, Hong Kong-based Star Cruises started a six-day cruise that calls Ilocos Norte as part of its rotation. Cruise shipping is one of the priority programs under PPA’s 25-year roadmap that will be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte later this year.
A budget of P212.693 million, meanwhile, will be used to dredge along berths and manoeuvring areas at the ports of Calapan, Roxas, Guiuan, Lamao, Tubigon, and Puerto Princesa.
All projects will undergo open competitive bidding under the Government Procurement Reform Act, and are restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least 75% interest of the outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.
Opening of bids for the Zamboanga port expansion and Salomague port development is on May 24, while the Davao, Coron, and Puerto Princesa projects will have their bids opened on May 25. Opening of bids for the Lamao and Puerto Princesa dredging is on May 29; for the Calapan and Tubigon ports, May 30; and for the Guiuan port, May 31.
PPA, as a government-owned and controlled corporation, has its own corporate budget and does not receive any subsidy from the government. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of renjith krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
