Malacañang on Thursday urged the bidders of the Sangley airport project to complain amid reports that the state-run China Communications Construction Co. was favored from the beginning.
The Inquirer has reported that some groups decided to back out from the bidding due to what they described as the project’s “subjective criteria” and a “rushed selection process.”
The report also cited that there were many “direct references” to the Chinese government’s planned involvement in the project.
Last year, it was disclosed that CCCC had joined forces with MacroAsia Corp., an aviation services firm of Philippine Airlines owner Lucio Tan, and became the sole consortium vying for the project, which was seen to transform the former US naval base into an air hub.
Six other groups, including infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and billionaire Manuel Villar Jr.’s Prime Asset Ventures, dropped out of the race, according to the report.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government welcomed any complaint.
“You must remember that this government has always been open to any complaint. In fact, we encourage people to complain, so that we will know whatever anomalies there are,” Panelo told a press briefing.