Southern Luzon ports up for upgrade

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will undertake P150 million worth of projects that seek to rehabilitate and upgrade six facilities located in the south of Luzon.

In a notice of award, the PPA issued the P75.35 million contract to construct the port operational area of the Port of San Agustin in Romblon to the joint venture of D.K. Jocson Construction and S2A Builders Corp.

Apart from this, the PPA is bidding out the P42.76 million restoration of port facilities in the Port of Lucena in Quezon and the Port of Cawit and Port of Sta. Cruz in Marinduque.

The projects, which are bundled into one, will require the winning bidder to complete the restoration within 270 calendar days. The PPA will conduct a pre-bid conference on Oct. 17, while bids will be opened on Nov. 7.

Further, the PPA is bidding out the P22.79 million improvement of the backup area in the Port of Lubang in Occidental Mindoro. The agency is also looking for a contractor to take up the P8.13 million enhancement of the old passenger terminal building in the Port of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, too.

The PPA requires the winning bidders for the improvement of the Port of Lubang and the Port of San Jose to finish the projects within 210 and 150 calendar days, respectively.

For these undertakings, the PPA will hold the pre-bid conference on Oct. 13 and will evaluate the bids on Oct. 26.

The PPA wants to complete 19 more projects before the end of the year, on top of the initial 30 that the agency delivered during the first year of the Marcos administration.

In particular, the PPA seeks to accomplish the P902 million upgrade of the general cargo berth in the Port of Sasa in Davao City. Also, the agency plans to wrap up the P693 million construction of the port operation area in the Port of Catagbacan in Bohol.

The PPA also eyes to deliver the first cruise dedicated terminal in the Philippines within the year. The facility, costing P620 million, is being built in the Port of Jubang in Surigao del Norte.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago believes it is urgent for the government to raise new ports and upgrade existing ones given that sea travel is gaining popularity among Filipino travelers.