Port operator Asian Terminals has expressed interest in bidding for an exclusive Subic port concession, an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said.

Asian Terminals purchased last week a copy of the terms of reference (TOR) to challenge Harbour Centre Port Terminal's unsolicited bid for a joint venture contract with the SBMA to develop and manage the naval supply depot at the free port, SBMA legal department manager Von Rodriguez told BusinessWorld.

Back in February, SBMA formally accepted Harbour Centre's bid for the 17-hectare multipurpose terminal. It went on to open a Swiss challenge, inviting other firms to submit counter-proposals.