The bidding process for the proposed P14.82-billion San Ramon Newport Project (SRNP) in Zamboanga City was declared a failure after no prospective bidders submitted pre-qualification documents (PQDs).
The Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority (ZCSEZA) Pre-Qualification, Bids and Awards Committee, in a notice, declared a “failure of bidding“ on Jan. 7, 2026 for the San Ramon Newport Project as “no PQDs were received from any prospective bidders”.
The deadline for pre-qualification had already been postponed several times from its original October 2025 schedule.
The ZCSEZA first opened the call for bidders in July 2025, seeking a partner to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the SRNP.
The project covers a comprehensive scope, including civil and building works, utilities, cargo handling equipment, and terminal operating systems, alongside financing and related costs.
Beyond addressing capacity constraints at the current Zamboanga Base Port (ZBP), the SRNP is designed to attract new locators to the ZAMBOECOZONE.
By streamlining logistics, the project is expected to significantly reduce transport costs for both international and domestic cargo across the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9).
The project’s primary competitor is the Zamboanga Base Port (ZBP), a multi-facility hub operating 19 berths, 12 of which are privately owned.
While the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) operates its largest dock—capable of accommodating up to 20 vessels—the ZBP serves a diverse range of traffic, including general cargo, breakbulk, containers, and fishing.
It is the country’s central hub for sardine exports to the US, Europe and the Middle East, supported by 25 shipping lines and four local shipyards.
Despite handling a massive passenger throughput of over 2.5 million in 2023, the ZBP faces significant challenges. It suffers from chronic congestion and is physically constrained by surrounding urban development, leading to plans for its eventual relocation.
This creates a strategic opening for the San Ramon Newport Project to capture both existing traffic and future growth that the current port can no longer sustain.
