NEARLY four years after the Philippines obtained funding for the project, the new P10 billion container port envisioned to address cargo traffic congestion at the Cebu International Port is finally moving closer to reality.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 that it is now inviting sealed bids from prequalified bidders for the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port Project (NCICPP) in Consolacion town, Cebu.
The project is funded by a US$172,641,000 (P8.884 billion) loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea from the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund.
The loan was received by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
In the Invitation for Bids issued on Feb. 18, 2022, the DOTr said the bidding will be for the Detailed Design and Civil Works, which $118,019,000 (P6.073 billion) of the loan proceeds is expected to go toward.
Pre-qualified bidders may purchase the complete set of bidding documents for a non-refundable fee of P75,000.
The deadline for bids is 9 a.m. of May 20, 2022, and the bids must come with a $2 million (P102.922 million) bid security.
The bids will be opened on the same day.
The entire project will cost over P10 billion as the Philippines is expected to provide counterpart funding of $26.090 million or P1.342 billion (at today’s exchange rate of P51.46 to the US dollar).
Loan agreement
The Philippines and South Korea signed the $172.641 million loan agreement on June 4, 2018 during President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to South Korea.
The port will be built on a 25-hectare reclaimed land in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion.
“It will include a berthing facility with a 500-meter quay wall length that can simultaneously accommodate two 2,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) vessels; operating facilities and structures for containers, such as a freight station and inspection shed; an access road and bridge; and a dredged waterway and turning basin,” according to a statement released after the loan signing.
Aside from the construction of physical structures, the project also covers the procurement of cargo-handling equipment and consulting services.
Scope of works
The scope of works for the Detailed Design and Civil Works includes the dredging and reclamation of a 25-hectare area, and a 1.5-kilometer revetment (support) for protection of the reclamation area.
Components of the project must have a life expectancy of anywhere from 20 years for yard and road asphalt pavement; to 25 years for buildings and mechanical and electrical installations; 50 years for the quay wall, rock-structure revetment and container yard drainage; and 100 years for the bridge, considering periodic maintenance.
A separate bidding process will be undertaken for the procurement of cargo handling equipment, specifically four quay cranes, the DOTr said Saturday.
Once completed, the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will operate the port, which will serve all international cargoes in and out of Cebu.
The current Cebu International Port at Cebu Baseport will form part of the Port of Cebu domestic port to augment port domestic operations, SunStar Cebu reported earlier.
The project is also seen to improve the flow of goods and services in the Visayas region.
In February 2021, CPA General Manager Leonilo Miole put the delays in the construction of the project down to the coronavirus disease pandemic and the lack of clearances.
The DOTr was then also addressing concerns on the road-right-of-way (RROW) acquisition for the construction of an access road to connect the international port to the main road in Barangay Tayud.
Last year, the DOTr and the Consolacion Municipal Government were set to sign a memorandum of agreement for the release of a P132 million budget for the RROW acquisition.