DOTC defers deadline for South terminal papers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has postponed the submission of prequalification documents for the P2.5-billion integrated transport system (ITS)-Southwest terminal to Dec. 12 instead of Dec. 1.

“In view of the final clearances that will have to be secured for the project, the deadline and bid submission is hereby moved from Dec. 1 to Dec. 12,” DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said.

The proposed terminal to be situated in a 2.9-hectare property 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.

Companies that have expressed interest in the PPP project are San Miguel Corp., Ayala Land Inc., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Robinsons Land Inc., D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., Vicente T. Lao Construction, French-owned Egis Projects Philippines, Filinvest Land Inc.; Megawide Construction Corp.; State Properties Corp.; and Expedition Properties Corp.

Last Nov. 25, the DOTC accepted the documents submitted by Ayala Land, Filinvest Land Inc., Megawide Construction Corp., and Datem Inc. for the P4-billion ITS South Terminal at the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) complex in Taguig City.

DOTC spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal earlier said the agency would release the list of qualified bidders on Dec. 22 for the scheduled submission of bids sometime in April next year.

The South terminal would connect passengers from the Laguna and Batangas side to other urban transport systems such as the proposed North-South Commuter Rail of the Philippine National Railways, city buses, taxis, and other public utility vehicles that serve inner Metro Manila.

The project would include a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, public information systems, ticketing and baggage holding facilities as well as park-ride facilities.

The DOTC is still identifying the final site for the ITS-North Terminal. It is now looking at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and the Manila Seedling Bank at the corner of Quezon Ave. and EDSA as well as well as the property of the National Housing Authority (NHA) near the Trinoma Mall.