Cebu City issues notice of award for bridge project

CEBU, Philippines – The Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation can now start processing the permits for the construction of the Cebu-Cordova Bridge Project after the Cebu City government issued the notice of award yesterday.

In a December 23 letter, acting mayor Edgardo Labella awarded the project to MPTDC’s CEO and President Ramoncito Fernandez.

“Please be informed that you have been awarded the project for the formation of a Joint Venture Agreement with the City Government of Cebu and the Municipal Government of Cordova for the financing, design, construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of an 8.55 km toll road to be known as the Cebu-Cordoval Bridge, including the construction of the connections to Cebu City and Cordova, the main bridge, structure, viaduct, causeway and roadway,” the letter reads.

“In view thereof, you are hereby issued this Notice of Award subject to the performance of the conditions precedent relevant to the foregoing project,” it reads further.

Lawyer Mary Rose Salvatierra, member of the city’s Committee on Awards, said the award was supposed to be issued during the second week of December after no Private Sector Proponent (PSP) submitted the Expressions of Interest to challenge the proposal of MPTDC.

But, she said, several members of the committee were not able to sign the award with different incidents at City Hall including the serving of the 60-day preventive suspension of Mayor Michael Rama last December 10.

With the issuance of the notice of award, Salvatierra said MPTDC can now start processing permits like the clearance by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Cebu Ports Authority for the main structure vertical clearance of the project.

“With the notice of award, the MPTDC can commence to comply with the conditions precedent like fulfillment sa katong mga permits,” she told THE FREEMAN.

The other requirements include the approval of the Toll Regulatory Board of the terms and conditions of the concession agreement, approval of PRA of the embankments required for the viaduct and causeway since there are incidental reclamations, a “no objection” statement from the Department of Public Works and Highways of the project including the connection of the Toll Facility to existing roads under its jurisdiction, and the Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, among others.

MPTDC has pegged the project cost at P27 billion, which covers construction, development, operation and maintenance of the third bridge through a joint-venture deal with local government.

The amount includes acquisition of the road right of way.

With the notice of award, Cebu City’s JVSC will forward the draft Joint Venture Agreement to the City Council.

Salvatierra said after the City Council approves the JVA, the mayor will sign the same with the proponent.

She said the council would most likely hold an executive session on the matter.

Under the draft of the JVA, the MPTDC is given to process all their permits within six months to one year including the road right of way acquisition of affected properties.

After the council would approve the JVA, the city government would issue a notice for MPTDC to proceed with the construction. If there will be no revision or amendment to the draft JVA, the construction of the third bridge will start by 2017. —/JMO (FREEMAN)