Newsletter_Sept-Oct 2011 Save PDF - Philippines Bases ...

In the News
BCDA seeks JICA nod to
fund feasibility study
on 3 big projects
Optimism runs high among leaders of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) over the
possibility of a Japanese grant to finance feasibility studies on three big-ticket projects drawn up by the
state-run corporation.
This developed following high-level exploratory
talks with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) officials at the JICA Headquarters to bankroll
the feasibility studies as a pre-requisite for the bidding
processes.
A four-man BCDA delegation met with JICA Deputy
Director General Tanaka Yasushi at the sideline of President
Aquino’s recent visit to Tokyo to seek the Japanese financing
institution’s approval to fund the feasibility studies.
BCDA Chairman Felicito C. Payumo and BCDA
President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova who were
part of the presidential entourage joined the initial talks
with JICA Deputy Director General Tanaka.
The BCDA executives said JICA Deputy Director
General Tanaka was “very receptive and supportive of our
proposal,” indicating that a JICA grant to cover the cost of
the feasibility studies is in the offing.
“I see it as a vote of confidence by the Japanese
investment and financing community for BCDA’s projects
to create growth engines that will spur national economic
development,” Casanova stressed.
The three flagship projects on the BCDA drawing
board are a monorail loop system in South Metro Manila,
development of the Clark International Airport in Central
Luzon, and a high-speed rail system connecting Metro
Manila and Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles,
Pampanga.
Casanova disclosed that they also met with
representatives of three dominant Japanese contractors—
Mitsubishi, Hitachi, and Marubeni—who offered to help
launch a lobby to speed up JICA’s approval of the grant.
He pointed out, however, that the Japanese
contractors’ assistance in the lobbying efforts does not
necessarily translate into special preferential treatment in
the bidding process.
“There are no strings attached, there will be a
level field, and all interested contractors are welcome to
participate in the bidding,” Casanova stressed.
He also expressed belief that JICA’s warm
response to BCDA’s propositions “apparently stemmed
from our strong relations born out of JICA’s funding for
the construction of the 93.7-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway.”
The BCDA said the three projects, to be
implemented through the public-private partnership
model, are expected to be completed within President
Aquino’s tenure, which ends in 2016, while the preparation
of the feasibility study is expected to commence early next
year to meet the target date of implementation by 2013.
The bidding will start shortly upon completion of
the feasibility study, Casanova said.
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is a flagship project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) partially funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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