Salceda urges Abaya: Award Bicol airport project deal Asap

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has urged Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to hasten the awarding of the contract for phase 2A of the Bicol International Airport project, which would cover the construction of landside facilities.

In a letter dated Feb. 1, Salceda said it has been two months since the project was bid out by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) last Dec. 8 but it has yet to be awarded to the winning bidder.

“I understand that post-qualification of the single calculated bid has already been conducted [by DOTC]. I would appreciate it very much if the resolution of the award and the Notice of Award would be ready for issuance,” Salceda said in his letter.

READ: Bicol lawmakers assail DOTC plan to delay int’l airport

Citing Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, Salceda said the post-qualification should be completed within 30 days after the bidding, adding that the Notice of Award should be approved and issued within seven days after completion/termination of post-qualification evaluation.

Salceda appealed to Abaya to ensure that the funds for the project would not expire due to the unusual delay in the awarding of contract.

The airport project’s Package 2A was first bid out in December 2014 but was eventually rebid a year later supposedly due to the disqualification of the winning bidder in post-qualification.

Lawmakers from Bicol expressed alarm that continuing delays “due to technicalities” have cost the region “billions of pesos in opportunity losses from tourism and enhanced economic activities in the area.” YG/CDG

READ: Albay gov raps DOTC over delay, rebidding of Bicol Airport project