Is government’s bidding for a West Philippine Sea tourism plan tailored for a favored contractor? Environmentalists and builders suspect it is, because of eligibility restrictions.
But the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority dispels such doubts. “We just want to ensure that bidders are truly qualified,” says TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid.
Green architects grumble against the Terms of Reference (TOR) for “Consulting Services for the Masterplan of Detailed Engineering Study of West Philippine Sea and Neighboring Islands.”
Foremost among their concerns are qualifications of “key personnel.” “Project Lead” must have or be an:
• Urban planner – “Why not an environment planner with expertise in island development or island tourism?” an architect asks.
• Masters in Urban Design – “What for? There won’t be any urbanization in WPS in the next 100 years,” the architect says.
• Completed two stadium projects – “I know who that is,” an urban planner remarks. “S/he’s very close to the admin. Check online the two stadiums s/he built recently.
“Are they to erect a stadium out there? If so, how will they transport spectators to fill it up?”
• ASEAN-accredited – “Why not Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation?” an environment planner wonders. “There are more islands in APEC than in ASEAN.”
• Portfolio must include a resort or island masterplan with 400-hectare area – “That fits the chosen one,” a civil engineer laments. “WPS may be huge, but its islets don’t add up to 100 hectares.”
• Licensed architect with at least 15 years’ experience in urban, master and site planning, architectural and engineering design – “That again points to the admin crony,” the first architect says. “Why not 25 years – which will disqualify him/her?”
The bidding is for P100 million. Masterplan and detailed engineering design must be completed within 180 days.
“Six months is too short, unless the winner is pre-determined,” explain the four sources. They request anonymity because of dealings with other agencies.
The urban planner says: “Engineering drawings are easy once the masterplan is finalized. But planning is tedious, taking at least a year of research, presentations, conceptualizing, more presentations, revisions and refinements, then more presentations.”
TIEZA posted the TOR on its website Friday, Sept 20. Eligible bidders will be picked in 11 days, Oct. 1. Winner will be announced in 60 days, early December. Project completion is early June 2025. It will skirt the election ban on government contracting that starts January 2025.
TIEZA’s ten-man technical working group restricted the eligibilities “because we want bidders with experience,” Lapid says. “We don’t want those who just copy-paste, then fail on deliverables.
“Immediate and mid-term needs are conference center, sports facility, marina and desalination plants. Thus, the strict qualifications.”
Congress funded this year the preliminaries for WPS tourism, Lapid adds. The TWG reports to the Special Bids and Awards Committee.
The TOR describes Kalayaan Island Group as “picturesque beaches, crystal-clear water teeming with marine life and opportunities for outdoor adventures.” Details:
(1) Pag-asa Island, the largest at 37.2 hectares, 259 nautical miles (480 km) west of Palawan.
It will have a 100-room resort with beachfront restaurant and spa, ferry terminal with café, shopping center with food court, 300-guest meeting hall, tourist info office, 30-unit staff housing, basketball and volleyball courts, gym, multipurpose field, power grid, desalination plant, roads, drainage.
(2) Likas islet, a sanctuary of giant turtles, 18.6 hectares, 47 nm northeast of Pag-asa.Thirty villas, swimming pool, restaurant, chef and butler services, desalination, power grid, roads, drainage.
(3) Parola Cay, 12.7 hectares, 28 nm northwest of Pag-asa. Thirty villas over water, spa, restaurant, chef and butler services, desalination, power grid, roads, drainage.
(4) Lawak islet, protected area for birds (all vulnerable, Palawan News reported last April 8), 7.93 hectares, 98 nm east of Pag-asa.
Tourist station, guided tours, pristine beaches, vibrant marine life, seating areas.
(5) Kota islet, ideal for fishing, 6.45 hectares, 22 nm southeast of Pag-asa. Same features as Lawak.
(6) Patag islet, flat land, 0.57 hectares, six nm north of Lawak. Same features as Lawak.
(7) Panata Cay, 0.44 hectares, seven nm east-northeast of Kota. Lighthouse with panoramic view.
(8) Rizal (Commodore) Reef, west of Balabac Island, Palawan. Tourist destination for island hopping, boating, diving.
Kalayaan Islands and WPS are flashpoints. Filipino troops occupied Kalayaan in 1978. China claims and trespasses the waters under its unfounded ten-dash line.
Spanish maps since 1734 and 1875 pinpoint them as Philippine territories within the Spratly Isles. So did America from 1898 to 1946. Four hundred fishermen, goatherds and dependents reside in Pag-asa.
The TOR obligates the bidder to have, aside from the project lead, two design architects and one landscape architect – all experienced in building at least one stadium.
Only the fifth personnel must be a registered environment planner for at least two years, but licensed in architecture for ten years. Under the Professional Regulatory Commission, urban planners may take licensure exams as environment planners.
“We don’t know yet who are interested to bid,” Lapid says. “We’re not favoring any body or entity.
“We put in those qualifications to assure that we get reputable, experienced bidders, those with track record. We had a problem before with copy-paste participants.
“I’ve not been to Kalayaan Islands. I did not see all the TOR details, so don’t recall the stadium requirement. I focused on environmental impact, not the technical expertise.”
Unaware of TIEZA’s bidding, environment planner and tourism developer Chen Mencias says “security of travelers is foremost.”
As cofounder of Blue Water Consultancy, she adds: “Any masterplan must consider the purpose of tourism. Is it education, research or leisure – which have different markets.”
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