Gov’t moves deadline for LRT 2 bidding

MANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has deferred anew the deadline for the submission of bids for the P1.15-billion maintenance contract for the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) system.

LRTA Bids and Awards Committee – Rail chairman Jose Jobel Belarmino issued Bid Bulletin R46 postponing the submission of bids for the project to Dec. 23 instead of Dec. 12.

Interested companies include Filipino-owned construction giant DM Consuji Inc. (DMCI); Miescorrail; Autre Porte Technique (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 of the three-year maintenance contract would replace the TSPA consortium consisting of APT Global,Telefonika, STIV, Pacific, and Global that currently maintains the LRT-2 system.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and LRTA are bidding out a separate contract for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the LRT-2. The deadline for the submission of bids for the public private partnership (PPP) project is on Dec. 15.

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., Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), Marubeni Corp. of Japan, RATP Development, APT Global, Globalvia of Spain, and DMCI Holdings Inc.

The winning bidder would operate and maintain the existing 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 from C. M. Recto Ave. in Avenida, Manila to Santolan in Pasig City with 11 stations as well as the proposed P9.7 billion extension project covering an additional 4.19 kilometers and two stations all the way to Masinag in Antipolo City.

The winner would also operate and maintain other future extension of the LRT-2 system. The extension is expected to further increase the current 200,000 daily passenger volume of the mass transit system that traverses the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, and Pasig.

The concession period for the operation and maintenance of LRT-2 would be between 10 years and 15 years.

Likewise, 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.

Late last month, the LRTA declared a failure of bid for the P423.3-million maintenance contract for the LRT-1 after no bids were submitted by interested companies.