Government dangles Central Luzon Expressway project to a private sector

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center will gauge private sector interest in the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) concession through a market sounding activity next week.

In an advisory, the DPWH and PPP Center said they are inviting firms interested in the CLLEX concession to a market sounding event on June 27 at the PPP Center office in Quezon City.

The  event aims to gather feedback from relevant stakeholders as the DPWH undertakes the PPP project study for the CLLEX.

Through the event, the agencies said “DPWH aims to collect indications of private sector interest in the CLLEX concession from both domestic and international companies.”

DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and PPP Center executive director Cynthia Hernandez will attend the market sounding event.

SMEC Philippines president Ricardo Yuzon Jr. will also be present at the event.

SMEC was tapped by the DPWH to carry out transaction advisory services to establish the viability of CLLEX Phase II, which will extend Phase I by connecting Cabanatuan City and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.

CLLEX Phase I is a 30-kilometer expressway connecting the provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija.

Construction for Phase I was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with counterpart funding from the Philippine government.

CLLEX Phase II, meanwhile, will involve the selection for a private proponent to finance, design and construct the project.

The private proponent will also operate and maintain both Phase I and II.