Albay officials slam delay in airport construction

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay officials led by Gov. Joey Salceda has criticized the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the delay in awarding the contract for the construction of the Bicol International Airport in Barangay Alobo in Daraga town.

“Reputable construction firms joined the bidding for the airport’s terminal building as early as January... Eight months later, it has not been awarded since the winning bidder was suddenly disqualified during post-qualification,” Salceda said.

DOTC sources said the government could have saved P100 to P170 million if the DOTC did not disqualify the winning bidder on non-existent legal grounds.

Salceda said another bidding would delay the construction of the long-awaited international airport by another year. “All our best-laid plans for tourism development and job creation will suffer as a consequence,” he said.

He urged Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to ensure that the bidding is above board. “I don’t want to think that there are favored contractors ... because it doesn’t speak well of the administration’s daang matuwid mantra,” Salceda said.

“I understand that the Bicol airport is not the only major infrastructure project suffering from unjustified delays. Our people deserve better,” he added.

Salceda said the P4-billion Bicol airport project started in 2008 when the national government recognized Albay’s potential as the next tourism and transportation hub because of its strategic location and natural attractions.