Probe on Megawide PAF project bid sought

Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, (3rd from left) MCIA general manager along with officials of GMR-Megawide talk to airport employees and officers after the flag-raising ceremony in this May 5, 2014 file photo. GMR-Megawide took over airport operations last Nov. 1.

Businessman and whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra yesterday requested the Ombudsman to investigate Megawide Construction Corp,,  one of the bidders for the P800-million replication project of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) facilities.

Speaking in behalf of A. Rivera Construction, Saavedra said Megawide has an advantage over the other bidders since the consortium has been a “business partner” of the Special Bids and Awards Committee of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

“We are not here to delay or stop the project but to protect taxpayers’ money and abide by the rule of law. We and other qualified contractors are left in the dark of the disadvantageous situation that will be created by the conflict of interest,” he said.

Saavedra addressed his complaint to Tanodbayan Conchita Carpio Morales but filed it before the Ombudsman Visayas.

He asked the anti-graft office to disqualify Megawide as one of the bidders for the replication project of the PAF facilities.

Equal footing
Saavedra believed there has been a “close business relationship” between Megawide and MCIA after the firm took charge of airport terminal operations last November 1.

He said the bidders should be on equal footing as required under the law.

“There should be competitiveness by extending equal opportunity to enable private contractors to bid on equal footing,” Saavedra said.

Megawide Construction Corp. earlier announced that it will bid for the replication project of the PAF facilities that will be affected by airport expansion project.

In his letter to Morales, Saavedra explained that the PAF reduplication project involves the construction of another Mactan Air Force facility in the area beside the existing Mactan Air Base and is composed of 21 different projects.

“The SBAC and Board of Directors, officials are part of the MCIA who are all involved in the bidding process and as the business partner of Megawide and GMR under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) program of the government,” he said.

In a press statement sent to Cebu Daily News, Megawide said it is participating in the replication project “only in the interest of ensuring that the PAF area is vacated promptly to give way to the construction of MCIA terminal 2 and improvement of airport operations.”