Published on
Monday, 13 May 2013 00:00
Malaya
Business News Online - Philippine Business News | Online News Philippines
Palafox was
awarded a P5 million contract to come up with a feasibility study that would
guide the BCDA in privatizing the Freeport zone under private-public
partnership.
Palafox &
Associates has won the P5 million masterplanning design for Poro Point Freeport
Zone in San Fernando, La Union.
Arnel
Casanova, president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and
Development Authority (BCDA), said the urban planning firm has been tasked to
complete the plan before the end of the year.
Casanova said
Palafox will work on a design that will unlock the potential of Poro Point’s
port and airport facilities as well as its land accessibility.
Palafox would
come up with the feasibility study that would guide the BCDA in eventually
privatizing the Freeport zone under private-public partnership, Casanova added.
The bidding
could take place as early as next year. Casanova said that the expected opening
by August of the Tarlac-La Union-Pangasinan expressway (TPLEX) increases the
attraction of Poro Pt.
Travelers
going North will soon have three expressways to choose from. They are North
Luzon expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway and TPLEX from Balintawak to
Rosario in La Union. Phase 1 of TPLEX covers La Paz to Gerona in Tarlac.
“You have a
growing population in (the north). You have surfing in La Union. Cordillera has
a lot of tourism sites; you have heritage places and old churches going up to
Paoay and Pagudpud. The Aquino administration has identified Poro Point as a prime destination for
tourists and investors, citing its infrastructure and strategic location.
Casanova has
earlier cited Poro Point as an ideal springboard to Southeast Asia’s major
markets.
The Freeport
has twin infrastructure jewels —- the San Fernando International Seaport and
the San Fernando Airport.
Through the
PPFZ’s San Fernando Airport, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Taipei are just an hour and
30 minutes away; Singapore, Japan and
Korea are just three and a half hours
away; while Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are just four hours away.
Further
future upgrades on the San Fernando Airport will eventually transform it into
an international travel facility.
Palafox
bested the joint venture of U.P. Planades & Philippine Jac. Inc.; Schema Konsult, Inc.; the joint venture of
CPRM Consultants, Inc. & Transport & Traffic Planners, Inc.; the joint venture
of Filipinas Dravo Corp. & Key Engineers, Co.; Philipps Technical
Consultants Corp.; and Palafox Associates.
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