PPA earmarks P1.2B to expand Bohol, Ilocos Norte ports
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has lined up P1.2 billion worth of port expansion projects in Bohol and Ilocos Norte, in line with its goal of increasing capacity for cargo shipments and public transportation.
The port regulator has issued invitations to bidders for the upgrade of Ubay Port in Bohol and Currimao Port in Ilocos Norte.
Interested parties may secure bidding documents on Sep. 2. A prebid conference will be conducted on Sep. 11, then bid submission will be on Sep. 25.
For the P364.3-million Bohol port project, the winning bidder’s scope of work includes removal and excavation, construction of the port operational area with roll-on/roll-off ramp (Ro-Ro) and pier extension. The proponent will have 480 calendar days to complete the project.
The chosen contractor for the P840.7-million Ilocos Norte port project will construct port lighting and draining system and conduct some excavation works, among others.
In the first half, cargo throughput in the country improved by 6 percent to 138.29 million metric tons (MT) from 130.08 million MT a year ago.
Container traffic grew by nearly 2 percent to 3.73 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 3.67 million TEUs.
Passenger traffic, on the other hand, grew by 16 percent to 41.48 million. Ro-Ro traffic also rose by 10 percent to 5.83 million.
The PPA has likewise started tapping consultancy services to implement feasibility studies related to 14 big-ticket port projects, which are targeted to be completed by 2028.
