By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine
Star) Updated October 29, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Department
of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has tapped the operator of the
biggest international airport in South Korea as consultant for the P4.3-billion
Puerto Princesa airport development project.
The DOTC awarded a contract for
consultancy for the airport development project to Incheon International
Airport Corp. in the amount of KRW4.678 billion or about $4.1 million
The Notice of Award dated Oct. 15,
2012 was signed by then DOTC acting secretary Rafael Santos.
“We are pleased to inform you that based on
the findings of the Primary Bids and Awards Committee of this Department, the
contract for consultancy for the tender documents, preparation, assistance in
bidding, and construction and maintenance supervision of the Puerto Princesa
airport development project is hereby awarded to you,” Santos stated in the
letter to Incheon International Airport director of overseas business group Hak
Chul Kim.
The company operates the largest
airport in South Korea and is one of the largest and busiest airports in the
world. For seven years in a row (2005–2012), it was rated the best airport
worldwide by Airports Council International.
The airport serves as a hub for
international civilian air transportation and cargo traffic in East Asia. It is
also currently Asia’s eighth busiest airport in terms of passengers, the
world’s fourth busiest airport by cargo traffic, and the world’s eighth busiest
airport in terms of international passengers in 2010.
The project involves the
rehabilitation or improvement of the existing Puerto Princesa Airport to meet
the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through
the construction of new landside facilities in the north western side of the
existing runway such as passenger terminal building, control tower,
administration and operation building, cargo terminal building, rescue and fire
fighting building and other support facilities.
The project also involves the
construction of new apron and connecting taxiways, upgrading of the existing
2.6 kilometer runway and its strip as well as the provision of new navigational
and traffic control equipment.
The project also aims to revitalize
the transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Recently, Palawan’s Underground River
was declared as one of the “7 New Wonders of the World” drawing record numbers
of tourists to the nation’s westernmost province.
Last Aug. 23, Finance secretary Cesar
Purisima inked an agreement on behalf of the Philippine government.
Export-Import Bank of Korea chairman and President Yong Hwan Kim signed on
behalf of the Republic of Korea to finance the project.
South Korea agreed to support the
development and rehabilitation of Puerto Princesa Airport by providing a
$71.6-million loan or about P3 billion as official development assistance (ODA).
The loan would finance the
construction of a new passenger terminal with facilities and a new access road.
Part of the money would also help
improve the runway and finance navigational aids to cover the increasing number
of domestic and international flights to and from Puerto Princesa.
This is the second deal inked by the
Philippine government with Korea Eximbank. A $207.88-million loan agreement for
the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II of the National Irrigation
Administration was clinched last month between KEXIM and the Philippine
government.
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