CICP contract set to be awarded in few weeks

CEBU, Philippines — The notice of award for the long-overdue new Cebu International Container Port (CICP) project in Tayud, Consolacion Town, is expected to be done a few weeks from now, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

This came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the Department of Transportation and other relevant agencies “to remain on track in completing and implementing transportation projects” in the country last week.

Early this year, the said project expected to begin construction on the third quarter of 2024, but got moved further.

Last September, Transportation Undersecretary Elmer Sarmiento said DOTr had planned to award the new CICP contract last month to Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, the only bidder for its civil works, but got pushed further.

But with the procurement already done, the awarding of the project to the contractor is expected to be done soon.

“Tapos na iyong procurement namin dito and we will do the notice of award in a few weeks,” Bautista added.

After the notice of award will be the signing of the agreement.

“Siguro iyong agreement, we can sign before the end of the year also,” Bautista said.

The Consolacion project is funded by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM). This container port is reported to have 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units and will be equipped with four quay cranes. The construction of the new CICP is targeted for completion by 2028.

The Department of Finance signed a $172.64-million loan agreement with KEXIM in 2018 while the government will provide ?1.4 billion or $26.09 million for the port project. (CEBU NEWS)