DOTC defers all bids until Mar takes over

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will postpone further action and resolutions on various bids and matters pending in all its offices and attached agencies to allow incoming DOTC Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to conduct his own review of all projects and programs.

Hernando Cabrera, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) corporate secretary and Light Rail Transit-Metro Rail Transit (LRT-MRT) spokesman, said that all ongoing public bidding for big-ticket projects being conducted by the DOTC-LRTA technical working group have been postponed by the LRTA to wait for the assumption of Roxas on July 1.

Among the projects lined up by the department were the P1.5-billion LRT-MRT-MRT 7 common station construction project along EDSA, and the LRT Line 1-MRT operation and maintenance contract.

Cabrera said the decision on the pending proposals for a fare hike at the LRT Lines 1 and MRT would also have to wait for a review by Roxas.

He said the postponement was deemed necessary by the LRTA board since Roxas may appoint his people in the special bids and awards committee (SBAC) and the DOTC-LRTA technical working group that has prepared the bidding especially for the LRT-MRT-MRT 7 common station project, and the LRT-MRT operation and maintenance contract.

In the latter case, the LRTA had also postponed making a decision on the motion of some bidders to delay the previously set July 11 bidding.

As many as 10 groups have expressed interest in participating in the LRT-MRT-MRT 7 common station construction project bid.

Among the interested parties are EEI, DMCI-First Balfour, D.M. Wenceslao, Foundation Specialist, Marcbuilt, F.F. Cruz. A.M. Oreta, Megawide Construction, Sumitomo Corp. and B.F. Construction.

For the LRT-MRT operation and maintenance contract, 16 groups have bought the expensive and voluminous bid documents, said to be worth P500,000 per set.

Among the 16 groups that bought the document are the Metro Pacific group of businessman Manuel Pangilinan, diversifying conglomerate San Miguel Corp., DMCI, Japanese conglomerates Marubeni Corp., Sumitomo Corp., and Mitsubishi; JAD/Genials, CAF, Abratique, and Serco.