Deadline extended for South Line bids

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has extended the deadline for the submission of qualification documents for the P171 billion North South Railway Project (South Line).

Local firms such as Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and San Miguel Corp. have expressed interest in the project by purchasing bid documents.

Other local firms interested in the project but have not purchased the bid documents are Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said firms from Spain and India have likewise expressed interest to participate in the PPP deal.

During a roadshow conducted by the DOTC with the PPP Center in Singapore last month, a number of foreign companies showed up and indicated interest in the project.

The project covers the construction, rehabilitation, extension, operation and maintenance of the Philippine National Railways South Line.

It consists of commuter railway operations between Tutuban in Manila and Calamba in Laguna, and long-haul railway operations between Tutuban and Legazpi in Albay, including extended long-haul rail operations on the branch line between Calamba and Batangas and extension between Legazpi and Matnog in Sorsogon.

The project is expected to be the sole rail backbone connecting Metro Manila to currently underserved areas in Southern Luzon.

Through the project, the existing railway will be revived and improved to provide enhanced passenger transport services and encourage more economic activities.

At present, the commuter line service from Tutuban to Calamba serves around 75,000 commuters daily.

Upon operations of the entire railway by 2020, it is expected to have 10 daily trips with seven train sets passing through 66 stations.

It is likewise seen to serve a total of 316,000 passengers per day on its opening year.