Korean firms interested in P3.3-B Puerto Princesa airport expansion

MANILA, Philippines - Industrial giants Hanjin and Kumho may join the bidding for the proposed P3.3 billion expansion of the Puerto Prin-cesa international airport, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.

DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued Special Bid Bulletin No. 01–2013 containing the agency’s reply on the written queries made by Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Co. Ltd. and Kumho Industrial Corp.

The Korean companies sought clarification on the terms of bidding of the $79.41 million design-build contract for the expansion of the Puerto Princesa airport that serves as the gateway to Palawan where the Underground River is located.

The DOTC issued an invitation to bid last Aug. 17, urging Korean companies to join the bidding for the project.

The DOTC said interested bidders have until Oct. 15 to submit their bids.

The Philippine government through the Department of Finance (DOF) received a loan worth $71.61 million from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of the Republic of Korea coursed through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The Puerto Princesa airport development Project aims to improve the existing airport facilities by expanding its present capacity to meet the projected increase in air passenger and cargo demand.

The project involves the rehabilitation or improvement of the existing to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the construction of new landside facilities in the northwestern side of the existing runway such as passenger terminal building, control tower, administration building, cargo terminal building.

The project also involves the construction of a rescue and fire fighting building as well as a new apron and connecting taxiways, and upgrading of the existing 2.6 kilometer runway and its strip, and the provision of new navigational and traffic control equipment.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is expected to generate 1.2 million tourists by 2016 and two million tourists by 2025.

Likewise, the airport is seen to revitalize the transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP EAGA).