DOTC extends submission of bids for MRT train supply

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is giving bidders two more weeks to finalize their bids for the P3.8 billion contract for the supply of 48 new light rail vehicles for the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT3).

DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued General Bid Bulletin 006-2013 giving bidders of the MRT3 capacity expansion project until June 11 to prepare and finalize their bidding documents after the agency issued new technical specifications for the new trains.

“In order to give ample time for the bidders to study the section and prepare their bidding documents, the opening and submission of bids for the project is moved to June 11,” Lotilla stressed.

This is the fourth time that bidding that was originally scheduled last March 22 was postponed. The submission and opening of bids was first postponed to April 15 and then to April 30 and then to end May.

Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive of China have inquired about the MRT3 capacity expansion project.

On the other hand, CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive is one of the largest electric locomotive manufacturers in China.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya earlier said the DOTC is also closely looking at acquiring second hand trains from Spain and has dispatched a three-man team to check the condition of the trains being offered by Metro de Madrid.

The DOTC also received a proposal from the government of Czech Republic to sell trains to the government under a concessional loan scheme through overseas development assistance (ODA).

Almost 600,000 passengers take the MRT-3 along a 16.9-kilometer stretch from North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Ave. in Pasay using the current fleet of 73 Czech-made trains wherein three-car trains arrive every three minutes during peak hours.

Under the expansion program, the DOTC said the government would acquire 48 new trains to be able to use a four-car trains that would arrive every 2.5 minutes.

Last September, Malacañang and the board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved the MRT-3 capacity expansion project involving the acquisition of additional trains.