CLARK FREEPORT — Clark Development Corp. (CDC) Vice President for Operations Franco Madlangbayan clarified yesterday the controversy hounding the P1-B 230 KV Clark power transmission line project, amid charges of bidding irregularities, that was awarded to the MIESCOR-NARI-TBEA consortium.
Madlangbayan said the reason why Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Arnel Casanova placed the project on hold was to seek a legal opinion from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) on the legality and propriety of using government funds to build the project and later on turning it over to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) which was recently privatized.
Madlangbayan said the contract was already signed by former CDC chairman and OIC Eduardo Oban before assuming his new assignment as Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary for Operations recently.
He also said the CDC Board has approved the contract. This is contrary to reports that Casanova refused to sign the contract due to alleged bidding irregularities.
Madlangbayan said the CDC based its guidelines on the policies laid out by the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Executive Orders 666 and 856, formulated to enhance and stabilize electric power in Clark being an important component for the smooth operations of Clark locators.
On Oct. 9, the CDC issued a Notice of Award and contract for the design and build services for the Clark 230 KV power transmission line project Phase 3B (Mexico-Clark) which was signed by Jose Antonio K. Alesna, the official representative of MIESCOR-NARI-TBEA consortium.
On Nov. 21, the CDC issued a Notice to Proceed with the contract which was subsequently placed on hold by Casanova pending an opinion from the OGCC.
