DOTC prequalifies 7 firms for 3 airport projects

MANILA, Philippines - Seven companies were prequalified for the construction of semi-permanent passenger terminals worth P68.5 million to decongest the existing terminals in three major airports in the country, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced yesterday.

DOTC spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said the agency’s bids and awards committee (BAC) has prequalified seven companies out of the 18 firms that submitted prequalification documents last Monday.

“While we are pleased with the turnout of interested bidders, a substantial number of them were declared ineligible. We have repeatedly said that the BAC has no discretion and can only uphold the pass-fail criteria mandated by the Procurement Law,” he added.

The proposed semi-permanent passenger terminal buildings would be constructed at the Clark International Airport, the Puerto Princesa Airport, and the Tacloban Airport.

“These semi-permanent structures are interim solutions to make passenger experience at the highly-congested Clark, Puerto Princesa, and Tacloban airports more convenient. These will increase the capacity of the airports’ terminal buildings until the long-term infrastructure upgrades are completed,” he stressed.

Sagcal said four groups including Jo Builders, AQA Global Construction Inc., Jerry R. Santiago Construction, and the joint venture of EM Cuerpo Inc. and Ascutia were declared eligible for the P 27 million project in Clark while the DG Sarmienta Group qualified for the P22.7 million project in Puerto Princesa.

He added that Jo Builders and HNR Construction & Supply qualified for the P18.78 million project in Tacloban.

Sagcal said each of the lowest bidders would now undergo detailed evaluation and post-qualification exercises.

Jo Builders submitted the lowest bid of P19.85 million for Clark and P13.67 million for Tacloban while the DG Sarmienta Group was the lone bidder for Puerto Princesa with P21.6 million.

The DOTC earlier decided to drop plans to set up tent terminal buildings worth P166.42 million in the three major airports and instead decided to put up semi-permanent terminal buildings to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

The semi-permanent terminal buildings would be installed to increase the capacity of the existing terminals in the three airports as an interim solution to the urgent problem of passenger congestion.

The proposed semi-permanent terminal buildings would be composed of hot-dipped galvanized steel structure for its steel framing system, pre-painted galvanized iron long span and pre-insulated roofing panels, pre-insulated sandwich galvanized iron wall panels, and carpet tiles.

The bidding also calls for the supply of standby generator and the upgrading of existing power supply at the Tacloban and Puerto Princesa airports.