(Stock photo from INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Four Korean groups are vying for the $14.5-million consultancy service contract to design the New Dumaguete Airport, which is envisioned to have a bigger capacity to accommodate more passengers amid the resurgence of air travel.
On Tuesday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) opened the prequalification documents submitted by Incheon International Airport Corp., Keun Jeong Architects & Engineers, Yooshin Engineering Corp., and Soosung Engineer.
Their proposals are subject to further review as DOTr is tasked with shortlisting qualified bidders.
The proponents must secure a minimum score of 70 points out of 100 to qualify as a bidder for the project. Among the primary criteria are the relevant experience of the proponent and the availability of required personnel to accomplish the project.
The Incheon Airport Group manages South Korea’s biggest international gateway, which handles 77 million passengers annually. It is also part of the San Miguel Corp.-led New Naia Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), which won the P170.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) rehabilitation project earlier this year.
Keun Jeong Architects & Engineers’ service portfolio includes the crafting of project designs and urban planning.
Yooshin Engineering Corp. is an engineering consultancy company that is involved in project development and environmental impact assessment, among others.
Soosung Engineer specializes in engineering designs for different kinds of infrastructures including airports, expressways, bridges, water, and seaports.
READ: DOTr seeks bids for contract to design new Dumaguete airport
The DOTr wants to replace the existing Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport in anticipation of passenger volume growing to 2.5 million by 2038. It can handle up to 800,000 passengers as of now.
While it is only serving domestic flights at present, the airport when upscaled is envisioned to accommodate international routes as well.
For this project, the DOTr is working with the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
The proposed terminal is one of the infrastructure project proposals approved by the National Economic and Development Authority Board last year.
The transportation department has stressed the need to improve connectivity in the countryside, lining up P1 trillion worth of regional airport projects. INQ