Bids committee rejects appeal of ferry firm

An inter-agency bidding committee has rejected the appeal of a ferry company that lost in the bidding to operate the Pasig River ferry system for its failure to submit credit line from a bank or financial institution.

Bingle Gutierrez, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission executive director and member of the four-man bidding committee, said they will stand pat on its earlier decision to disqualify Metrostar Ferry Inc. (MFI) for its failure to comply with the financial requirements for applicants.

Gutierrez said they have already sent a letter to MFI, informing the company of the upheld disqualification.

The letter was signed by Gutierrez, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Agustin Bengzon, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Undersecretary Cesar Lacuna and Engr. Ramon Gil Macapagal of Unilever Philippines, representing the private sector.

The letter stated that MFI was fully aware of the technical and financial requirements that were imposed to enable the evaluating team to verify a bidder’s capability to undertake the project for the long term.

" The evaluating team cannot go beyond the documents you have submitted and has to strictly abide by the required process and procedures. Any devaluation from the manner would have resulted in a failed bidding.

The approving committee had to be assured of your eligibility to undertake the project at the time of the submission of your eligibility to undertake of your bid and not thereafter," the letter stated.

Earlier, MFI held a press conference to seek the help of President Arroyo for a rebidding of the project.

Officials said they submitted the lowest bid and that they also have a pending P300-million loan application from a bank.

But Gutierrez said the argument of MFI cannot be considered because the sealed envelope they submitted was never opened in public and that a loan application cannot replace a credit line certification from banks or financial institutions.

"It was an open bidding. Everybody was invited," she said.

The winning bidder was Nautical Transport Services (NTS), an Australian-based company, which offered model boats comparable to those being used in Sydney.

Gutierrez said with the bidding over, the project will go on as scheduled, opening in February with at least five ferry boats servicing commuters from Escolta to Mandaluyong.

" We estimate at least 28,000 trips daily with average of 60 passengers per trip," she said. — Perseus Echeminada