GMA Network, 17 August 2012

Investors interested in the P60-billion Light Rail Transit extension to Cavite wanted more time before submitting their bids for the public-private partnership project, prompting government to extend the deadline to Sept. 28 from Aug. 22.
“In response to the request of several prospective bidders for more time to prepare the qualification documents and in light of the recent revisions to the instructions to prospective bidders, the qualification documents submission date is extended to September 28,” the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) noted in a special
Bulletin Friday.
The project would extend LRT Line 1 to 32.4 kilometers from 20.7 kms and to a new south endpoint in Niog, Bacoor, Cavite.
The extension covers eight stations, with provision for two future stations, 10.5 kilometers of viaduct, support beams, and three intermodal facilities.
About 10.5 kilometers of the Cavite Extension System would be elevated and 1.2 kilometers at grade level.
Government has set aside P30 billion to buy up to 39 new Light Rail Vehicles for the project, according to the DOTC.
The extension would open up the Line 1 services to the nearly 4 million residents of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and the Province of Cavite, the department noted.
During the investors’ briefing and pre-qualification conference last July 10 were First Pacific and affiliate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., San Miguel Infrastructure, Ayala-controlled Makati Development Corp., FF Cruz, and DMCI.
Japan’s Marubeni, Sumitomo, Mitsubishi and Itochu were also present, as well as French transportation contractors RATP Dev and Systa. Ecorail and Leighton Contractors were also there.
Banks that attended the conference were Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Universal Bank, PNB Capital, China Bank, and Dutch financial giant ING Bank, and American-owned Citi.
PPP project would entail the operations and maintenance of LRT Line 1 system, construction of Line 1 Cavite Extension, and the operations and management of both as an integrated system.
The winning bidder from the private sector get to build the tracks, stations and facilities, and operate and maintain LRT I for P30 billion.
Government would cover 50 percent of the P60-billion project, including the coaches, which would be financed through official development assistance. — VS, GMA News