Bidding for power barges postponed to May 16

MANILA, Philippines—State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has postponed the bidding for four diesel-fired power barges to May 16 this year, to give interested parties more time to do due diligence on the facilities.

In a statement, PSALM president and chief executive officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. said the agency decided to extend the bid submission deadline by over a month from the original schedule of April 13, upon the request of the bidders who are still conducting due diligence on Power Barges 101, 102, 103 and 104.

“This (postponement) is aimed at giving them ample time to come up with a more responsive bid for the assets,” Ledesma added.

Ledesma said the 11 bidders were informed of the new bidding schedule through a supplemental bid bulletin (SBB).

“The SBB effectively modifies and becomes part of the bidding documents for this particular bid,” he said.

The SBB also moved the deadline for the filing of the request to bid as a consortium to 5 p.m. of March 28, 2012, and for the submission of documentary deliverables to 5 p.m. of April 18, 2012.

Ledesma reiterated PSALM’s requirement for bidders to submit an offer for each of the three packages of power barges. Package 1 combines power barges 101 and 102; package 2 is PB 103; and Package 3 is PB 104.

Another condition for the sale of the power barges currently stationed in the Visayas is the transfer of these barges to Mindanao to augment the power supply in the region.

Commissioned in 1981, power barges 101 and 102 are currently stationed at Bo. Obrero in Iloilo City. Power barges 103 and 104, which began operation in 1985, are moored in Botongon in Estancia, Iloilo; and at the Holcim Compound in Ilang, Davao City, respectively.