DOTC asked to hasten Bicol airport project

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has appealed to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to speed up the award of the contract for Phase 2A of the Bicol International Airport.

In a letter to Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya dated Feb. 1, Salceda said Phase 2A, which covers  the construction of landside facilities, was bid out on Dec. 8.

“I would appreciate it very much if the resolution of the award and the notice of award would be ready for issuance,” Salceda stated in his letter.

He said post-qualification evaluation should have been completed within 30 days from the bidding, after which the notice of award should be approved and issued within seven days.

Salceda said the DOTC should ensure that funds for the airport project, which was provided under the 2014 General Appropriations Act, would still be available despite the delay in the award of the contract.

He said the project was first bid out in December 2014 and originally targeted for completion within 24 months.

During a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Abaya blamed losing bidders, who file motions for reconsideration, for the delays in the award of government projects.