5 firms offer to undertake P19-B Davao Sasa port project

MANILA, Philippines - Five firms, led by San Miguel Corp. and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), submitted qualification documents for the P18.99 billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization project, the first public private partnership (PPP) project in Mindanao under the Aquino administration.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said yesterday the firms which submitted qualification documents are ICTSI San Miguel Corp.-APMT, Bollore, Portek and Asian Terminals Inc.-Dubai Port World.

The winning bidder will be responsible for financing the construction and modernization of the existing port.

The private partner will likewise be handling the operations and maintenance of the port.

After the submission of qualification documents for the PPP project yesterday, the government is looking to conduct the submission and opening of bids in the fourth quarter.

The award of the project meanwhile, is targeted in April next year.

The project is expected to address the six percent annual increase in container traffic in the Davao region over the next 25 years.

The modernized port will be able to cut down cargo unloading to three hours from three days by using modern ship-to-shore cranes and port operating systems.

It will also help exporters, particularly banana growers in Davao to save at least P8,000 in trucking costs per delivery.