Bidding woes hound airport

LEGAZPI CITY—Construction at Southern Luzon International Airport in Barangay (village) Alobo, Daraga town, Albay province, has been delayed for almost a year now after being put on hold by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.

Salceda on Friday has expressed dismay over the delay that, he said, was being caused by technical problems in the bidding process despite an initial P970-million funding that should hasten construction of the airport runway.

He said the delay had pushed back project completion beyond the target date of 2016.

Salceda said the project should have been started this year but because of the May national and local elections, the project has been put on hold by the DOTC.

He cited another drawback after the project was awarded to Sunwest Construction Corp. in October 2012. The award was questioned by other bidders, who pointed out flaws in the bidding process, prompting the DOTC to raise the case to the Office of the  Solicitor General (OSG) for resolution.

The OSG, after hearing the case, issued a ruling awarding the construction project to Sunwest, and the DOTC thereafter issued a notice to proceed on Aug. 6 this year.

Another cause of delay was when Sunwest Corp., which is based in this city and owned by Elizaldy Co, asked that it be reimbursed losses incurred when the heavy equipment they used were destroyed by lawless elements as the company was preparing the village for the project’s full implementation.

Co has reportedly been identified as an ally of the previous Arroyo administration. He is a brother of Ako Bicol Rep. Christopher Co.

Sunwest’s request for reimbursement is pending for consideration of the DOTC, triggering another ground for delay of the project, Salceda said.