2 groups vie for consultancy contract to enhance mass transit

MANILA, Philippines - Two groups composed of Japanese companies submitted bids to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for a consultancy contract on how to enhance  mass transit systems in Metro Manila including the capacity of the proposed P70-billion extension of the existing Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2.

Hernando Cabrera, spokesperson of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), said the two groups submitted bids for the consultancy contract of the LRT1 and LRT2 extension projects being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the DOTC last Dec. 23.

As early as June, the DOTC invited Japanese companies to bid for the consulting services for the capacity enhancement of mass transit systems in Metro Manila project.

Cabrera said Tokyo-based PADECO Co. Ltd. submitted its technical and financial proposals together with Philipp’s Technical Consultants Corp., Pertconsult International as well as Transport and Traffic Planners Inc.

He added that the group’s sub-consultants include CH2MHill Halcrow, TUV Rheinland Philippines Inc. and Advanced Geotechnical Engineering Services.

The LRTA official said the second group is the CMX Consortium led by Tokyo-based Katahira & Engineers International together with Tonichi Engineering Consultants Inc., Japan Transport Consultants Inc., and Japan International Consultants for Transportation Co. Ltd.

Local partners in the CMX Consortium include Applied Planning & Infrastructure Inc., DCCD Engineering Corp., Development Engineering & Management Corp., J.F. Cancio & Associates, SCHEMA Konsult Inc., TCGI Engineers, Engineering & Development Corp. of the Philippines, and Key Engineers Co. Consultants Inc.

Of the five groups that were shortlisted, Cabrera said four groups joined forces to form the CMX Consortium while PADECO’s group remained intact.

 â€œThe shortlisted firms are allowed to partner with one another or with other firms who were not included in the short list,” he said.

Cabrera said the winning consultant would draw up the technical specifications, bidding assistance, construction supervision, and warranty supervision for the LRT1 and LRT2 extension projects.

The mass transit system projects include the P64.9-billion extension of LRT1 all the way to Bacoor in Cavite from Baclaran in Pasay City as well as the P9.6 billion extension of LRT2 from Santolan all the way to Masinag.

The DOTC is set to rebid the LRT1 Cavite extension project on April 28 after a failed bidding last Aug. 15 as only the Light Rail Manila Consortium led by infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) submitted its technical and financial proposals while the MTD-Samsung Group, San Miguel Infrastructure Resources Inc., and DMCI Holdings Inc. withdrew their participation in the bidding process due to questions about the viability of the project.

The Cavite Extension project would increase the span of Line 1 from 20.7 kilometers to 32.4 kilometers and will have a new south endpoint in Niog, Bacoor, Cavite. The extension would open up the Line 1 services to the nearly four million residents ofParañaque, Las Piñas, and the Province of Cavite.