CLARK FREEPORT— “It will dramatically improve connectivity.”
Thus, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said in reaction to the impending mega-airport project in Bulakan, Bulacan.
Vince Dizon, BCDA president and CEO, also said, “all these airports are aimed to complement each other and make air travel within and outside the country more convenient and comfortable.”
This developed as observers noted the proximity of the Bulakan airport project to this freeport which hosts the Clark International Airport and may be too close for two airports to operate seamlessly.
But Dizon said, “given the massive congestion in NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) and other airports throughout the country, the Duterte administration’s multi-airport strategy will dramatically improve connectivity.”
The Bulakan, Bulacan mega airport project was cornered by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) as no challengers submitted a competitive bid at the end of the Swiss challenge on July 30. SMC will build and operate the P735-billion New Manila International Airport.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) assistant secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation and chair of the Bids and Wards Committee Giovanni Lopez said San Miguel must now comply with certain documentary requirements.
Lopez said the DOTr will send a notice of award within eight days.
“There are some conditions in the notice of award which San Miguel has to comply with, for example the performance security, proof of commitment, Lopez said.
“They have 20 days to do so. After that we have five days to check whether they complied or not, then a formal signing of contract … Then we will issue a notice to commence construction of the project,” he explained.
It was learned that a performance security can be in cash equivalent to 2 percent of the total investment or surety bond equivalent to 10 percent of the project cost.
“If you follow the time period, until within the month of August or first week of September, we’re done with the documentation processes,” Lopez said.
Meanwhile, San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang told the media that the company is ready to comply with the documentary requirements within the prescribed period so the construction of the airport can begin.
Ang earlier said he was optimistic that the company can start constructing the airport project within the year.
It can be recalled that the DOTR has opened the Swiss challenge in April. The Swiss challenge is the process in which the original proponent will have to match or top the challengers to its proposal.
The DOTr said it has given potential challengers enough time or around 180 days to come up with a comparative proposal but no competitor submitted a bid until the deadline.
An unsolicited proposal from San Miguel’s infrastructure unit, the Bulacan airport was approved by NEDA Board—chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte— on April 26 subject to the resolution of pending issues, including the joint and several liability agreements by San Miguel Holdings and parent SMC.
The project involves the construction, operation and maintenance of a 2,500-hectare airport in Bulakan, Bulacan. The development includes a passenger terminal building with airside and landside facilities, an airport toll road, and four runways.
The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has made no comment on the Bulacan mega-airport project.
