Spanish firm eyeing Phl energy, infra opportunities

MANILA, Philippines — Spanish firm Acciona Construcción S.A. is interested in opportunities in the energy and infrastructure sectors in the Philippines. 

The company is looking at energy and infrastructure projects in the country which the firm could participate in, Ruben Camba, country director at Acciona Construcción for Singapore and Southeast Asia told reporters.

“When we talk about energy, we are talking about solar and wind energy.  (For) infra, (we are looking at) special projects like water, bridge, tunnel and highways. These are our areas of expertise,” he said. 

He said the company is likewise interested in railway projects in the country.

Among the projects the company is interested in is the Light Rail Transit Line 6 (LRT-6) which would involve a proposed 19-kilometer (km) railway from the end of the LRT-1 extension at Niyog in Bacoor, to Dasmariñas City in Cavite.

The LRT-6 was rolled out by the previous administration under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

According to the PPP Center, the project is currently under review. 

The company is also interested in the Mindanao Railway Project, which would cover 1,532 kilometers and connect the Davao provinces, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Zamboanga.

The first phase of the Mindanao Railway will span 102-km and link Tagum City in Davao Del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur.

As the government is pushing for infrastructure development through its Build Build Build program, the country offers a lot of opportunities for the company.

“We think the potential of the city of Manila and the country of Philippines is huge,” Camba said. 

At present, Acciona is involved in projects in the Philippines in the water and tollways sector. 

In particular, it bagged the design and contract and one-year operations and maintenance of the Putatan 2 Drinking Water Treatment Plant last year.

The project involves advanced treatment of raw water from Laguna de Bay. 

Acciona is also part of the Cebu Link Joint Venture with partners First Balfour Inc. and D.M. Consunji Inc.. The joint venture was awarded the design and build contract for Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).