Construction of new Clark terminal may start Dec ’17

Clark International Airport Expansion Project aims to construct a new passenger terminal to accommodate 8 million passengers annually as well as the construction and installation of all required associated facilities –both airside and landside, to support the operations of the new terminal. (From www.build.gov.ph)

MANILA, Aug. 11— The construction of Clark International Airport’s new terminal building is expected to begin in December this year as the government is set to award the contract in November.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon said six bidders have already bought tender documents for the bidding of the new terminal building while some 20 local and foreign firms have expressed their interest to participate.

The Clark International Airport is seen as an alternative gateway to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

“The cornerstone of the development of Clark is the international airport. We are expecting that eventually investors will set up business in Clark to decongest traffic in Metro Manila and promote growth in the countryside,” Dizon said during the Dutertenomics forum held Thursday afternoon at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

The BCDA, in partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is inviting interested parties to bid for the project which includes the engineering, procurement, and construction contract of airport facilities, as well as the development of a new passenger terminal.

Both local and foreign firms are allowed to bid. The project information, memoranda and the instructions to bidders were available starting August 10, while the invitation to pre-qualify and bid may be purchased for a non-refundable fee of PHP1 million.

The PHP12.55- billion project involves the construction of a new passenger terminal to accommodate eight million passengers annually as well as the construction and installation of all required associated facilities – both airside and landside, to support the operations of the new terminal.

The expansion of the Clark terminal will be the first project to be undertaken by the Duterte administration under the hybrid public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Under the scheme, the government will be in charge of building the facility and will turn over to the private sector its operation and maintenance.

The scheme will result to lower airport charges for passengers as the infrastructure is funded by the government and will have a share in the earnings of the private sector from airport operations.