MPIC-Ayala taps S’pore firm for 1-ticket system

MANILA, Philippines - The tandem of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and conglomerate Ayala Corp. has tapped Singapore-based MSI Global Pte. Ltd. for the P1.72-billion Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) project.

The AF Consortium signed the contract last April 2 with MSI Global – the commercial arm of the Singapore Land Transportation Authority specializing in integrated transport payment solutions.

“The decision to partner with MSI illustrates the consortium’s commitment to ensuring only the best standards for the implementation phase of the project, further solidifying the importance of providing an international standard for ease and efficiency of commuter travel in Metro Manila,” the AF Consortium said in a statement.

MSI Global managing director Sim Wee Meng said the company is privileged to have been given the opportunity to work together with the DOTC and AF to bring to the people of Metro Manila a unified ticketing system that would seamless travel across the transit systems.

The official said the contract signifies the beginning of the implementation phase of the new payment system.

“The consortium is excited to have been given the opportunity to improve the infrastructure of Metro Manila and is committed to providing a service that the commuters of Metro Manila can be proud of,” the AF Consortium added.

Last March 31, the AF Consortium inked the concession agreement with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the single ticketing project for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

The AF Consortium submitted a negative bid of P1,088,103,900 for the project last Dec. 12 edging the negative P1,088,000,000 bid of the SM Consortium of retail magnate Henry Sy.

On the other hand, the Comworks-Berjaya Consortium submitted a bid of P2,050,090,300.

However, the E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture Inc. and Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium failed to hurdle the agency’s technical evaluation.

The DOTC was supposed to announce the winner as early as Dec. 23, but E-Trans Solutions asked the agency to open its bid which would supposedly be more advantageous to the government and the Filipino people.

The DOTC, however, denied the request of E-Trans Solutions, but the SM Group later sent a letter seeking clarification about the bidding process.

The AFCS, a tap-and-go ticketing scheme for the MRT and LRT rail systems, is envisioned to improve passenger comfort and convenience by cutting queuing time and allowing seamless transfers from one rail line to another.

The AF Consortium would promote the use of the smart card-based technology to other transport modes such as buses, as well as to retail outlets such as mall and convenience stores, among others.