PPA keen on bidding out Iloilo Port this year

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is keen on bidding out the port management contract for Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (ICPC) this year, said PPA Commercial Services Department manager Mark Jon Palomar.

Palomar said bidding will be done after the agency makes “a bit of revisions” to the components of the terms of reference (TOR) for the ICPC port terminal management contract.

These revisions will be based on feedback gathered during the second public consultation, which is scheduled for July 26.

PPA rolled out on June 21 its first public consultation and proposed development plan for ICPC.

The proposed development plan and privatization of the terminal leasing of the ICPC is offered at P5.87-billion, which allocates P4.61 billion in capital outlay projects and P1.26 billion for major equipment expenses.

The winning bidder or operator will carry out the operations, management, landside, and waterside improvement and expansion, among others.

Aside from the operations and maintenance, PPA also plans to convert ICPC into an exclusively international port and decongest the main gateway in Manila.

The ICPC, classified as Tier 1, bidding falls within the framework of PPA’s port terminal management regulatory framework (PTMRF). Tier 1 covers a concession period of 25 years.

After the public consultation on June 21, stakeholders have a five-day window to submit their position papers to the PPA regarding the proposed development of ICPC and the tariffs for Tier 1 ports.

PPA also said it plans to bid out the port terminal management contract of a minimum of 10 ports this year, including those that will be under “clustering,” or consolidating the port terminal management of several ports under one contract.