DOTC Press Release, 18 April 2013
Manila, Philippines – Following the success of last week’s Opening of Qualification Documents for the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Project, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to conduct the corresponding event for another Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project, its third one to be rolled out so far.
The Transport Department announced today that interested parties in the P17.5-Billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Project will submit their eligibility documents to the joint DOTC-Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Prequalification, Bids, and Awards Committee (PBAC) on Monday, 22 April 2013.
“We are optimistic that the MCIA Project will generate the same level of interest from major local and international companies as what we saw from the AFCS Project. We made sure that this project will also be attractive to investors in order to foster competitive and open bidding,” said the DOTC.
Competition is an essential feature of public bidding, as it encourages interested groups to submit better proposals for the government. A total of 12 companies purchased Invitation Documents for the MCIA Project.
According to the agency, it expects foreign airport operators to take part in the bid because of the lack of local expertise in that area.
“Based on our requirements, Philippine companies will have to partner with established airport operators from other countries,” the DOTC noted. “This will benefit our domestic air transport industry, as technology transfer will give local players the opportunity to learn from more advanced and more experienced airport operators.”
In turn, the DOTC assures the private sector that the joint DOTC-MCIA PBAC will maintain a level playing field in the bid by upholding transparency and fairness, hallmarks of the Transport Department’s procurement reforms.
The MCIA Project entails the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building with a capacity of about 8 million passengers per year; renovation and expansion of the existing terminal; installation of all the required equipment; and the operation of both new and existing facilities.
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