DOTC taps Incheon operator as consultant

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded a P67-million contract to Incheon International Airport Corp. for consulting services for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

In a notice of award sent to Incheon International Airport Corp. executive director Ki-Beom Yang, DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has awarded the contract to the Seoul-based company.

“Notice is hereby given that the contract for the procurement of consulting services will be awarded to Incheon International Airport Corp. in the amount of P67-million subject to the submission of documentary requirements,” Lotilla said.

The DOTC requires the winning bidder to submit cash, cashier’s or manager’s check equivalent to five percent of the contract price; a bank draft or guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit equivalent to five percent of the total contract price; and a 30-percent surety bond callable upon demand.

It would be recalled that the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Japanese contractor Takenaka Corp. disagreed on some technical aspects of the completion of NAIA-3.

The issue, according to former Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, centered on the level of upgrade and rehabilitation needed for the terminal, prompting the DOTC to tap a third party consultant.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said a new contract worth about $45 million for the civil works is expected to be signed within the month with Takenaka for the completion of the airport terminal.

Abaya said as a goodwill gesture, Takenaka agreed to respect contracts entered into by the DOTC for the operation of certain systems in the terminal.

Part of the completion work is the delivery of 23 airport systems, including baggage handling and reconciliation system, flight information display system, building management system, local area network, fire alarm and protection system, and passenger loading bridges.

The DOTC and Takenaka signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Japan last March.

The move was seen as the first legal step to complete NAIA-3, which has been operating below maximum capacity since it opened four years ago.

The Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO) contracted Takenaka to build NAIA-3 in 1998 but work stopped in 2002 over allegations of anomalies.

Under the MOU, Takenaka would complete the 23 airport systems critical to NAIA-3’s full operations by 2013.

These systems include fire alarm and protection system, flight information display system, building management system, local area network, baggage handling and reconciliation system and passenger loading bridges.

 The government is expected to spend $45 million for the installation and rehabilitation of the 23 systems at NAIA-3.