$5.5-M Concepcion port rehabilitation ready for bidding

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=$5.5-M-Concepcion-port-rehabilitation-ready-for-bidding&id=140124 ILOILO CITY — Bidding will soon be opened for the $5.5-million Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Project, located in Concepcion town in Iloilo province, following the green light for funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). KOICA Country Director Shin Myung Seop, Iloilo Gov. Arthur D. Defensor Sr. and Concepcion Mayor Millard S. Villanueva launched the project on Feb. 1 with the ceremonial exchange of the Record of Discussions (RoD),a document equivalent to a Memorandum of Agreement. “They (KOICA) will be the one to conduct the bidding but they will open it also to Filipinos,” Mr. Defensor said in an interview at the launch. The fishery project covers the repair and improvement of existing port facilities as well as the conversion of the wet market into a passenger terminal with a total area of 450 square meters (sqm). Dining stalls will also be improved, while a selling area for local products will be built. Under the terms of the RoD, KOICA will also fund the construction of a new fish port complex with an ice storage facility, two new access roads, waste management facilities and the capacity-building of project implementers and beneficiaries. The new fish port complex will be built adjacent to the existing port where 6,500 sqms will be reclaimed for a 200-meter causeway, a 600-sqm wet market and a 150-sqm administration building. It will be equipped with water tanks, floodlights, public address and warning system and a power generator. The project aims to raise the productivity and income of fisherfolk affected bytyphoon Yolanda in 2013. Mr. Defensor said work on the project is expected to commence in about two months after the bidding process is completed.