Raul Santos, assistant general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said the terms of reference for the bulk terminal would be completed before the year ends.

The indicative price of the bidding for the bulk terminal has yet to be determined including the timetable for the construction once it is awarded to the winning bidder, said Santos.

Santos stressed that there is a need for a new bulk terminal because at present products such as dry or liquid bulk cargoes such as wheat, flour, minerals, petroleum and other commodities had to be rerouted to other sites or handled shipside because of lack of or inadequate accessible Manila-based bulk handling facilities.