Saturday, March 03, 2007 Malaysian firm eyes Cebu infra
ANOTHER Malaysian company has expressed interest in investing in Cebu, specifically on the proposed P5-billion transaxial highway project of the Province of Cebu.
The company, Ranhill Engineers and Contractors Sdn. Bhd. (Ranhill), is also talking with the Pilipinas Bulk Water Resources Corp. (PBWRC) for possible partnerships in PBWRC’s “big” projects in the country.
Ranhill is among the firms that submitted letters of intent in relation to the proposed Carmen bulk water supply project, an undertaking that seeks to provide about 45,000 cubic meters of water a day to Metro Cebu through the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.
PBWRC, a partnership between Cebu-based businessman Michel Lhuillier and water solutions provider Mactan Rock Industries Inc., earlier announced its flagship project — the P3-billion bulk water supply project for different barangays in Metro Cebu.
In an interview, PBWRC legal counsel Romulo Senining said top officials of Ranhill, led by its chief executive officer Ron Metcalf, expressed interest in the trans-axial highway project during their recent visit to Cebu.
The project, the “biggest in the 400-year history of Cebu,” includes the construction of P2 billion worth of road network in the hinterlands that will connect Santander town in the south and Daanbantayan town in the north.
The United Engineers Malaysia group earlier expressed interest in the project.
Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. earlier said the Capitol plans to publish internationally in June the notice of the bidding for the project, which will have water, power and agricultural components.
Ranhill, a global construction company, is a subsidiary of Main Board, a Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange listed firm. The group has over 28 years of experience in the infrastructure, oil, gas and utilities sector, Senining said.
He said Ranhill showed interest to form a partnership with PBWRC and participate in the bidding for the highway project.
If it pushes through, Senining said the partnership will increase PBWRC’s capability to venture into big projects, especially on water.
He said PBWRC’s negotiations with Ranhill are still ongoing. Ranhill officials will be coming back to Cebu in a month or two to gather more information on the trans-axial highway project.
Aside from the construction of the road network, the project also includes the P1 billion drinking water distribution system component, P1billion wind power system and the installation of water pipelines that is estimated to cost P1 billion.
Sanchez said it will take three years to complete all the components of the project.
When the project is finished, Sanchez believes there will be reverse migration in Cebu and that Cebu City will be decongested because the rural areas will already be accessible. (JBN)
