2 May 2013, Malaya Business Insight
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said it expects the completion of the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) connector road and the strict implementation of the integrated buses terminal project to ease the traffic congestion on EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) .
“We expect the removal of provincial buses from EDSA, coupled with our anti-colorum initiative and the construction of the NLEX-SLEX connector road to improve the traffic condition significantly,” DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said
The DOTC has identified three ways to help ease the traffic problem on EDSA. First is by cracking down on colorum buses. “We issued this week a request for information asking IT (Information Technology) companies to weigh in on what is the best method available for weeding out illegitimate or colorum buses,” Abaya said .
Another solution was the elevated highway that will be built by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and Citra. “We expect this road to be finished at least partially in time for APEC 2015,” Abaya added, referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
“The third solution is the Integrated Transport System ( ITS) Terminals that we will be bidding out soon,” he said. These terminals are meant to be unified terminals for provincial buses located on both ends of EDSA and connected to mass transit systems like the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit that will provide passengers with inner city transportation.
Abaya said one of the integrated terminal buses project will be located in the Coastal area for buses that will be coming from Cavite. Another one will be located in the FTI complex for buses that will coming from SLEX while a third will rise in the SM and TRINOMA area  for buses coming from NLEX and the north.
Malaya, 12 April 2013
One Public Private Partnership (PPP) project—$504.8 million NLEX-SLEX Connector Road—that did not go through bidding as an unsolicited proposal will be subject to a “Swiss challenge” later, according to an official at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Swiss challenge” means the project’s implementing agency, DPWH in the case of the connector road, will later invite other interested individuals or corporations which might have “better cost and toll rates” for the project, said engineer Moreno Navarro of DPWH.
“We do this because we want the best proposal,” he said. “And this is covered by the revised Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) law.”
The revised BOT law (Sec. 10.1) allows unsolicited project proposals only if they involve a new concept or technology as determined by the implementing agency or local government unit (LGU).
Further, the revised BOT law provides that the unsolicited projects do not require direct government guarantee, subsidy or equity and the agency or LGU did not receive any proposal after 60 days when it invited proposals in a publication for three weeks.
The original proponent, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which operates NLEX, might face other bidders later. Metro Pacific is headed by Ramoncito Fernandez as president and Manuel Pangilinan as chairman.
The PPP Center said earlier this is the first PPP project which was unsolicited. Most of its projects—rails, roads and airports—are solicited.
Engineer Navarro said the project will allow faster and more efficient movement of people and goods from north to south of Metro Manila and vice-versa.
He said the project is expected to decongest Metro Manila by providing an alternative to C-5 Road, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other major thoroughfares.
The project involves the construction, operation and maintenance of a 13.4 km. 4-lane elevated expressway over the Philippine National Railway (PNR) right of way, which starts in Caloocan City and ends in Gil Puyat, Makati City.
It will connect North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.
The project will be operated by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. for 35 years, exclusive of two and a half years of construction. It was approved by the NEDA Board on January 18, 2013.
ABS-CBN News, 11 April 2013
MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya says he will meet with other officials to work out issues about San Miguel’s NLEX-SLEX Connector Road project.
The Department of Finance earlier raised an issue about the concession agreement drafted by the Toll Regulatory Board, saying it should be revised to remove the Philippine National Construction Corporation, whose franchise ended in 2007.
The DOF said the draft agreement should have more specific performance indicators, from construction to operation and maintenance and penalties for failure to deliver.
The DOF also said the draft agreement gives the concessionaire too many grounds for seeking toll fee increases. - ANCÂ
Interaksyon, 21 January 2013
MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday said it would likely hold in March the Swiss challenge for Metro Pacific Tollways Corp’s (MPTC) unsolicited road project connecting the north and south of Metro Manila.
“We will finalize soonest maybe in two months, we will announce [the terms of reference],” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson told Interaksyon.com in a text message.
The board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last week approved the P25.56 billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, which will complete the north-south industrial development beltway transport axis through the construction of a 13.4-kilometer four-lane elevated expressway.
Connecting the North Luzon Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway, the project aims to decongest traffic in Metro Manila and provide better access to Manila ports. The project should start this year and end in 2016.
The connector road would run along the tracks of state-owned Philippine National Railways. Since the project is an unsolicited proposal, government rules require that it be subjected to a Swiss challenge.
Earlier, Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the government has come up with a compromise deal acceptable to MPTC and Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp, which also plans to put up a connector road linking NLEX to SLEX at a cost of P25.4 billion.
Malacanang had cleared both the MPTC and Citra Manila projects, which would intersect at a point running from Buendia Avenue to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus in Sta Mesa, Manila. Financing and construction of the common alignment had been a sticking point as that 5-kilometer segment is expected to enjoy the highest traffic volume for either project.
Backed by San Miguel Corp, Citra Manila’s proposal calls for a 14-kilometer six-lane tollway that will have exits in Quirino, Manila and Plaza Dilao, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon Boulevard, Sgt. Rivera, and Balintawak in Quezon City.
MPTC, along with TV5 is chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan. InterAksyon.com is the online news portal of TV5.
Rappler.com, 19 January 2013
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III finally gave his nod on the two road projects linking the expressways north and south of Metro Manila, paving the way for the start of construction for these crucial infrastructure projects meant to ease traffic and improve connectivity.
On Friday, January 18, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, which Aquino chairs, approved 5 infrastructure projects worth P146-billion, including the P25.55-billion NLEx-SLEx Connector Road project, which was ”conditionally approved” in November 2012.
The delay was largely attributed to cost issues about the “common alignment road,” or a 5-kilometer-long stretch that the two NLEx-SLEx Connector road projects share. The Neda board’s go-signal paves the way for the start of road construction this January.
“Private sector [will finish] by 2016 the common connection…from Buendia (in Makati City) to PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila) which will be funded by government,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said in a press briefing after the meeting.
President Aquino has once singled out this infrastrcture project as the one he wants completed before he steps down in 2016. The connector roads are expected to cut travel time between NLEx and SLEx to just 20 minutes. It currently takes an hour or more to travel between the two since the congested metropolis is in between.
Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp, which has sealed a deal with Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC), is technically a rival of the Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) for this. Instead of choosing between the two, President Benigno Aquino III gave his nod to both of their separate connector road proposals.
TWO ROADS. Metro Pacific and San Miguel-Citra propose to build separate roads connecting NLEx and SLEx. MPIC’s proposal is the pink line, while San Miguel-Citra’s is the shorter, dark blue line. Illustration from the SMC-Citra group
The San Miguel-Citra proposal does not have to go through a Swiss challenge, but MPTC’s does since it was an unsolicited proposal.
The common alignment issues are included in the provisions of the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA), which will be the basis for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to undertake the Swiss Challenge, Transportation Joseph Emilio Abaya had explained on January 7.
CONNECTOR ROAD. This is the proposed map of the NLEX-SLEX Connector road to be undertaken by Metro Pacific and San Miguel-Citra. Photo taken from a presentation provided by the PPP Center.
Among the projects the Neda board also approved on January 18 were:
- Rappler.com
Business World, 18 January 2013
TWO MORE project in the government’s priority public-private partnership (PPP) list have been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board, together with three other rural infrastructure projects, a Palace official said Friday.
Secretary Ramon “Ricky” A. Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said the five projects, worth a total of P146.83 billion, were approved by the board headed by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III after a meeting on Friday.
The two PPP projects are the P35.5 Cavite-Laguna expressway (Cala-Ex) and the P25.56-billion unsolicited proposal of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) to connect the North Luzon and South Luzon expressways (NLex and SLex).
The projects were conditionally approved by the board in November last year pending a costing review.
Mr. Carandang said the cost of the Cala-Ex — a four-lane, 47.02-kilometer (km) road connector — was brought down to P35.5 billion from P43.4 after “little adjustments” on specification and design were made.
The contract for the NLEx-SLEx connector road, meanwhile, involves the construction of a 3.4-km, four-lane elevated expressway over the Philippine National Railway (PNR) right of way from Caloocan to Buendia Ave. in Makati. The project, which aims to decongest traffic in Metro Manila, is expected to be finished by 2016.
Roll out of the two PPPs is expected this year, Mr. Carandang said.
Also approved were the:
• P2.9-billion livelihood programs under the Cordillera Highlands Agricultural Resource Management project;
• P1.03-billion dam project in Pasa river in Isabela; and
• P81.9-billion continuation of the anti-poverty project of the Department of Social Work and Development called the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service (Kalahi-Cidss).
These projects will be partially funded through official development assistance in addition to government appropriation, Mr. Carandang said.
“All these projects were meant to promote inclusive and rapid growth,” the Palace official told reporters after the board meeting.
Since the PPP program was first presented to investors in the fourth quarter of 2010, only two projects have been awarded, so far: Ayala Corp’s P1.956-billion Daanghari-Southern Luzon Expressway Link Road and BF Corp. and Megawide-Citicore’s P16.5-billion school building program.
Seven other projects — the P1.72-billion automatic fare collection system for Metro Manila’s three railways, the P1.16-billion rehabilitation of Angat power plant’s two turbines, the P5.6-billion Orthopedic Center rehabilitation, the P60-billion Light Rail Transit-1 Cavite extension, the P15.86-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway 2, the P8.8-billion phase 2 of the public school infrastructure project, and the P17.51-billion new passenger terminal building in the Mactan-Ceby International airport — are in the pre-bidding stages. – Noemi M. Gonzales
Business Inquirer, 30 November 2012
By Riza T. Olchondra
THE BOARD of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), which is chaired by President Aquino, has approved nine new transportation and infrastructure projects with investments worth P105.85 billion.
The board also approved the time extension of one project, the formulation of an investment program for agrarian reform communities and two Public-Private Partnership projects were approved in principle, subject to further review of costs.
The approved projects were the P2.12-billion Tacloban airport development and the P8.81-billion acquisition of multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC); P8.87-billion Phase I of the Mactan-Cebu international airport (MCIA) new passenger terminal project of the DOTC and MCIA; the P1.72-billion contactless automatic fare collection system (AFCS) also of the DOTC; the P1.16-billion rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the Angat hydroelectric power plant turbines 4 and 5 through the PPP pro gram of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS); the P1.14-billion Albay West Coast road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); the P13.14-billion school infrastructure project of the Department of Education, the P25.56-billion NLEx-SLEx connector road of the DPWH, and the P43.33-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx) project also of the DPWH.
The P68.28-million Component “A” of the Convergence on Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (Project Converge) of the Department of Agrarian Reform was also approved. The Neda board likewise gave the go-ahead to the two-year extension of the World Bank-assisted Mindanao rural development project (MRDP) II, which will cost P7.39 billion. The Department of Agriculture will implement the project.
The Tacloban Airport project, to be implemented from 2013 to 2016, aims to address capacity issues arising from increasing passenger growth. Neda said it was also geared to comply with international standards for operational safety and efficiency through the expansion and improvement of existing landslide and airside facilities, including the construction of a new passenger terminal building.
The MRRVs project will be implemented from 2012 to 2016 and involve the acquisition of 10 units of 40-meter MRRVs. These will be used by the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen and further develop the coast or watch patrol and search-and-rescue capabilities of the agency.
The MCIA Phase I project involves the construction of a new passenger terminal and renovation of the existing terminal. Its implementation involves a concession period of 20 years, including the construction period. Phase 1 will be from 2014 to 2016.
The AFCS project involves the implementation of a contactless and integrated automatic fare collection system on the existing LRT Lines 1 and 2 and the MRT 3. It intends to replace the magnetic stripe tickets with contactless smartcards and tokens. The AFCS will be implemented from 2013 to 2014.
The AHEPP project of the MWSS, to be implemented from 2013 to 2014, aims to extend the economic life of auxiliary turbines by another 30 years as well as increase energy output and load capacity to 60 percent.
The DPWH project, to be implemented from 2014 to 2016, involves the full reconstruction of a 32-kilometer road, raising of sections located in the selected lower areas of Albay to prevent flooding.
The school infrastructure project, to be implemented from 2013 to 2014, involves the design and construction of 10,679 classrooms in 5,033 public schools (with furniture and toilets) in 14 regions nationwide. Neda said the project has been “approved in principle,” subject to further review of costs.
The NLEx-SLEx connector road, to be implemented from 2013 to 2016, aims to complete the North-South industrial development beltway transport axis by connecting the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEx). The project intends to decongest Metro Manila traffic and provide better access to Manila ports.
The CALAX project, to be implemented from 2012 to 2017, involves the financing, design and construction of a new 47.02-kilometer, four-lane expressway from the end of the CAVITEx in Kawit, Cavite, to the Mamplasan Interchange of SLEx in Biñan, Laguna.
23 November 2012, Malaya Business Insight
by Myla Iglesias
The two groups of investors planning to connect the country’s two expressways have agreed on the design and the sharing of expenses on a common road.  One proponent, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said it is finished with engineering details and eager to submit its quote to the government.
The common road runs from the Buendia junction in Makati, pass through Plaza Dilao  near the old Paco train station  to Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa.
Metro and Citra San Miguel Corp., the other proponent, agreed to extend the common road from three to five kilometers.
Ramoncito Fernandez, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., president upgrading the common road would cost at least P3 billion.
In related development Fernandez said he expects the Toll Regulatory Board to approve their request for an 11 percent increase in toll for the North Luzon Expressway.
He said MPTC still has the lowest toll rate of P2 per kilometer in Asia.
Earlier the  National Economic Development Authority- Investment Coordinating Committee (NEDA-ICC) made it a condition that before the connector road projects are approved, the two must agree on the common road.
Fernandez said that the two groups will finalize the sharing on the construction cost and revenues .
San Miguel Corp-backed Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC) will link the two expressways along a path nearer  EDSA traversing the Sta. Mesa –Araneta (St. Rivera) road to connect to the Balintawak entrance of the North Expressway.
The Metro Pacific road will traverse a longer route from Buendia to the Port Area portion of Manila to connect to the Mindanao Ave link in North Expressway.
The Metro project will run 14 kilometers with six lanes and will cost P25 billion.
The Metro project likewise has three phases of development- the Mindanao Ave., to Valenzuela link to be finished by September next year;  the Valenzuela  to Harbor area  then the Harbor area to Buendia.
A 13.2-kilometer elevated road connecting the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX will cut down travel time across the metropolis from two hours to 15 to 20-minutes, regardless of traffic at ground level.
