Government to build P27 billion MICE infrastructure project in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine International Exhibition Center (PIEC), a P27-billion flagship MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) infrastructure project of the Marcos administration, will rise on a newly reclaimed island in Manila Bay, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

The DPWH said it has secured the approval of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) to use a special “customized” set of bidding documents to bid out the design and build contract for the project, which will be located at the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City.

The GPPB last Jan. 31 had approved the request of the DPWH to use customized bid documents that do not conform to the standard bid forms set by Republic Act 12009, otherwise known as the New Government Procurement Act of 2024.

DPWH sought the exemption from using standard procurement forms for the PIEC design and build contract tender to address “procurement process failures and implementation issues.”

In particular, the DPWH proposed changes to the Philippine Bid Documents (PBDs) drafted by the GPPB, customizing certain clauses numbering up to 13 covering the Instruction to Bidders, General Conditions of Contract and Special Conditions of Contract.

The DPWH said the PIEC project is divided into two packages, with Package 1 allocated a budget of P17 billion covering the design and detailed engineering, foundation, structural and architectural works from 2024 to 2025, and consulting services for construction supervision for the two packages; and Package 2 which is allocated the remaining budget of Pl0 billion that will focus on civil works, including structural and architectural works from 2026 to 2027.

The DPWH presented the PIEC project to the GPPB as a flagship infrastructure initiative in Pasay Harbor City, envisioned to serve as a premier venue for international exhibitions and conventions, promoting trade and economic development in the region.

The Pasay Harbor City is a joint venture project between the Pasay City local government and Davao-based firms Udenna Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy and Ulticon Builders.

The Pasay Harbor City project was initially undertaken as a project to reclaim 265 hectares on Manila Bay forming two separate islands. However, well-informed sources told The STAR that soil stability issues on the one island already reclaimed had caused a rethink on the second island reclamation plan.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan had created a special bids and awards committee (SBAC) to undertake the tender for the design and build contract for the PIEC project.