No takers for 1-yr LRT-1 maintenance contract

MANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has declared a failed bidding for the P423.3-million maintenance contract for the Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) as not a single bidder submitted a bid.

LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera said no bids were submitted last Friday, prompting the agency to look into the possible rebidding of the maintenance contract for the mass transit system.

“We are still waiting for management decision,” Cabrera said.

Three companies had expressed interest in the one-year maintenance contract for the LRT-1 that operates the 20.7-kilometer LRT-1 from Baclaran in Pasay City to Roosevelt in Quezon City.

The interested bidders were Autre Potre Technique (APT) Global, Global Epcom Services, and Miescorrail Inc. of electricity giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The group of ComBuilders and Technology (CB&T), PMP Inc., and Gras Sabrocai currently maintains the LRT-1 system.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and LRTA earlier signed a concession agreement with the Light Rail Manila Consortium for the P65 billion extension project of the LRT-1 all the way to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite form the Baclaran station in Parañaque City.

The lead member of the group is MPIC Light Rail Corp. with 55 percent, while other members include Ayala’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. with 35 percent, and Macquaire Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. with 10 percent.

Interested companies are concerned about the financial viability of the short-term contract that covers only one year.

The LRTA is also bidding out a P1.15-billion maintenance contract for the 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 system running from CM Recto Avenue to the Depot Santolan Street along Marcos Highway.

Interested companies include Filipino-owned construction giant DM Consuji Inc. (DMCI), Miescorrail, APT Global, Marubeni Corp. of Japan, the tandem of Multi Scan Corp. and Hyundai Rotem Corp. of South Korea; Telefonicka Inc., Comm Builders & Technology Phils, Corp., Global Epcom Services Inc., and Korean-owned Busan Transportation Corp.

The winning bidder would replace the TSPA consortium consisting of Telefonika, STIV, Pacific, and APT Global that currently maintains LRT-1.

The DOTC is now bidding out the operation and maintenance of the LRT-2. The deadline for the submission of bids for the public private partnership (PPP) project is on Nov. 20.

Interested companies include the tandem of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and conglomerate Ayala Corp., GT Capital Holdings of taipan George SK Ty, diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., Marubeni Corp. of Japan, RATP Development, and DMCI Holdings Inc.

The agency is also bidding out a P2.4 billion contract for the construction of the viaduct for the P9.7 billion extension of LRT-2 all the way to Antipolo City from the Santolan Station in Pasig City.