DOTC seeks NEDA okay for LRT 2 bidding

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will seek the green light from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to bid out the operation and maintenance component of the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2).

Public Private Partnership Center executive director Cosette Canilao said in an interview with reporters that the proposed O&M contract for the LRT2 would be presented to the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) next year.

The contract for the O&M, she said, would be under the PPP scheme covering the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT2 from Recto to Santolan, as well as the proposed 4.14-kilometer extension eastward to the intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City.

The P9.7-billion LRT2 extension project entails the construction of two additional stations including the Emerald Station in front of Robinson’s Place Metro East in Cainta Rizal and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

Canilao said the proposed financing for the project is through government appropriation and official development assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project would increase the capacity of the LRT2 to 240,000 passengers per day from about 130,000 passengers.

The DOTC has yet to award the P350-million consultancy contract for the civil works of the LRT2 as the bid of the consortium of Foresight Development and Surveying Co., Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Korea Rail Network Authority is still being evaluated.

The consortium submitted a bid of P247 million or a little over P100 million lower than the approved budget for contract of P350 million, edging the group composed of JF Cancio & Associates together with Development Engineering & Management Corp., Engineering & Development Corp. of the Philippines, Filipinas Dravo Corp., TCGI Engineers, Urban Integrated Consultants Inc., and Oriental Consultants Co. Ltd.

Other groups that were shortlisted included the consortium of Schema Konsult Inc., Pertconsult International, KE Asia Inc., DCCD Engineering Corp., Key Engineers Co., and Proconsult Inc.; the tandem of Systra Philippines and Philipps Technical Consultants Corp. as well as the joint venture between Science and Vision for Technology Inc. and Yooshin Engineering Corp.

Of the five groups that were prequalified, only the group led by Foresight Development managed to pass the technical proposal requirement.

The groups led by JF Cancio & Associates, Schema Consult as well as the tandem of Systra and Philipps have filed a motion for consideration.

This project was originally offered earlier this year, but the DOTC declared a failed bidding last February when only one of the interested parties was able to meet the eligibility requirements of Republic Act No. 9184 otherwise known as the Procurement Law.

The project was approved by the NEDA July of last year to make travel from Rizal province to Manila easier and faster.