DOTC to defer bid deadline for P2.5-B bus terminal

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to defer the deadline for the submission of bids for the proposed P2.5-billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) Southwest Terminal project.

The agency is likely to postpone anew the June 16 deadline to give bidders enough time to prepare their documents as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Aquino approved the revised terms of the public private partnership (PPP) project only last Thursday.

The original deadline of submission was scheduled last May 15 but was moved to June 16 as the DOTC amended the terms of the concession agreement to make it more attractive to prospective investors.

The Southwest terminal project situated in a 2.9-hectare property located at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway would connect passengers coming from Cavite to other urban transport systems such as the future Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT) South Extension to Bacoor in Cavite, city bus, taxi, and other public utility vehicles plying Metro Manila.

The project would include a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, public information system, ticketing and baggage handling facilities and park-ride facilities.

The DOTC pointed out that the proponent would finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the ITS project for a period of 35 years.

Interested bidders include diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., conglomerate Ayala Corp. and property giant Ayala Land Inc. , Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Robinsons Land Inc. of taipan John Gokongwei, D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., Vicente T. Lao Construction, French-owned Egis Projects Philippines, Filinvest Land Inc. of taipan Andrew Gotianun; Megawide Construction Corp.; State Properties Corp.; and Expedition Properties Corp.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the NEDA Board also approved changes in the terms of the P4 billion ITS-South Terminal project at the FTI Complex along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The DOTC is also looking at putting up an ITS-North Terminal project to be situated somewhere in Quezon City near EDSA.

“These will make travel more efficient and convenient for passengers, as well as decongest traffic in the main thoroughfares of Metro Manila since provincial bus terminals within the metropolis will no longer be allowed to operate,” Abaya said.

The ITS projects were part of the P62 billion approved by the NEDA Board last May 29.

Other projects involving the DOTC approved included the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2) operation and maintenance project worth P14.34 billion; the P4.1-billion Busuanga Airport development project; and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit worth P10.62 billion.

Other projects approved include the master development plan for the Clark Green City ; the P1.19-billion Laoag City Bypass Link road project; the P2-billion modernization program for the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital; the P2.69-billion Water District Development Sector Project; the P5.78-billion Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); and the P18.72-billion New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam project.