InsiderPH learned one of the local bidders have asked National Security Adviser Eduardo Año’s to take a closer look at the recent auction for the bridge’s Bataan Land Approach.
This comes after state-backed China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. appeared to be the frontrunner after its financial bid of P4.87 billion came in at a 33 percent discount from the proposed P7.2 billion budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“We are particularly concerned about the participation of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as sole contractors or in joint ventures exclusively with other Chinese SOEs in the bidding process,” a bidder said in a letter to Año's office.
Bidders are asking the National Security Council to conduct a threat assessment on the 32-kilometer Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge, noting its strategic location along a vital maritime corridor.
“Their large-scale deployment of foreign labor, opaque governance structures, and track record of incomplete projects pose risks that extend beyond economics into national security,” the letter showed.
“While participation through joint ventures with established Korean or Japanese partners may be acceptable, entrusting strategically sensitive packages — especially the Bataan Land Approach segment — to a Chinese SOE acting alone raises significant concerns,” it added.
The three Filipino bidders are the Sta. Clara–Posco consortium (ranked 5th overall), the EEI Corp.–PMI consortium (ranked 7th overall) and the Consunji family’s DMCI (ranked 8th overall).
Among these, Sta. Clara and South Korea’s Posco was ranked first in its technical qualifications but fell behind at 7th place with its financial bid just below the DPHW’s budget.
Behind China Harbour, owned by China Communications Construction Co. — which had been blacklisted in the past by the World Bank — are China Wu Yi Co. Ltd.–Fujian Road & Bridge Construction Corp. Co. Ltd., Hunan Road & Bridge Construction Group Ltd./China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. Joint Venture, Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd. and Sino Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
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