6 firms join Napocor bidding

Six out of nine qualified applicants participated in the bidding for the P10.2 billion worth of 2001 fuel needed by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) for one year, a company official said yesterday.

Manuel Singson, Napocor head for fuel bidding, said the three major oil firms — Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Caltex Philippines Inc. — along with three new players — Filpride Petroleum, Coastal Petroleum and Total Petroleum Corp. — submitted bids which are now being considered by the Napocor management committee.

The Napocor official said they have yet to study whether they could approve the bids based on the bid prices. He said some components may have to be rebid because there was only one bidder.

Last week, Napocor said nine oil companies would participate in the bidding. The three companies that did not submit bids were Oilink International Corp., Subic Bay Distribution Inc. and A. Brown Energy. — Donnabelle Gatdula