THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is set to award its P14.8-billion New Clark City water and wastewater project to the Maynilad Water Services Inc.-Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) consortium after no rival proposal emerged in the Swiss challenge.
At a Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines event in Makati on Tuesday, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang told reporters the agency plans to proceed with the award as soon as possible, even before the 90-day challenge period expires.
Some companies attended the project’s pre-bid activities but did not submit competing proposals, he said, declining to identify them.
The absence of competing offers clears the way for the consortium, which earlier secured original proponent status, to proceed to the next stage of the public-private partnership process.
The formal award, however, remains subject to the completion of the required procedures.
The project, initially proposed by K-water in February, will develop bulk water supply and wastewater infrastructure for New Clark City in Tarlac.
The system is expected to have a capacity of 150 million to 200 million liters per day, with surplus water also intended to be shared.
The proposed joint venture carries a 25-year term, with an option to extend for another 25 years.
Foreign aerospace players
Meanwhile, a European maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company is planning to establish a facility at Clark International Airport, Bingcang said.
BCDA withheld the company’s name, pending authorization to disclose it.
The proposed site covers about 40 hectares beside the airport’s Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) facility. The BCDA head clarified that the $40 million would cover construction of the facility, while the company itself would provide the equipment and other contents.
BCDA would build the hangar according to the company’s requirements, while the facility would be operated with a local partner that would also serve as its developer, he said.
In addition, Bingcang said he discussed the partnership and financing arrangements during a recent trip to Paris, but no agreement had been signed as of writing.
Separately, an American aerospace manufacturer is also looking to establish a production operation in Clark, Bingcang said.
He, however, did not disclose the company’s name, the proposed investment amount, expected employment or project timeline.
The project is still subject to further discussions, with United States government approval also among the factors that could affect its progress.