DND to spend P313 M for Oyster Bay facilities

MANILA, Philippines - The Defense department will spend P313 million to construct vital facilities at a naval detachment in Oyster Bay facing the West Philippine Sea.

The project would involve the building of a pier, harbor and support facilities at the Palawan-based detachment, according to a bid bulletin signed by Defense Assistant Secretary Efren Fernandez.

The construction of the pier and harbor costs P237.12 million, while the building of support facilities will require P76.49 million.

Oyster Bay is located about 160 kilometers from the Spratly Islands, the subject of a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.

The Defense department will hold a public bidding next month for the project.

Only Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least 75 percent interest or outstanding capital stocks belonging to Philippine citizens can join the bidding.

Bidders should have completed within the last 10 years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contract similar to the project.

A complete set of bidding documents may be bought from the Defense department’s Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat for P50,000. It may also be downloaded from the Philippine government’s Electronic Procurement System website, provided that the bidder will pay for them before the submission of bids.

The deadline for the submission of bids will be on Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. The bids will be opened on the same day.

The company offering the lowest bid will advance to the post-qualification phase, which aims to determine whether the plans are responsive to the needs of the military.

A notice of award will be issued if the lowest bidder meets the post-qualification requirements.

The upgrading of bases is a component of the military’s upgrading efforts, which would require about P85 billion for the next four years.

The base upgrading projects are meant to prepare for the arrival of military assets to be acquired through the new Armed Forces modernization law.

The government has expressed readiness to provide the United States and other allies access to its bases in a bid to counter China’s aggressive activities in the region.

Officials, however, said there is no plan to construct permanent foreign military installations, as these would violate the Constitution.