InterAksyon, 06 January 2014

By Darwin G. Amojelar

 

MANILA – The award of two public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects may be delayed after losing bidders questioned the auctions, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the Filinvest-Changi Airport consortium wrote to the DOTC Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), asking for the disqualification of the tandem of Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure Ltd.

Megawide-GMR posted the highest bid of P14.4-billion for the P17.5-billion Mactan Cebu International Airport Project.

Abaya said the issues raised by Filinvest-Changi should be resolved first before the notice of award can be issued.

The DOTC had expected to award the project on January 6, and to seal the contract by January 27.  The concession agreement had been scheduled for signing on February 6.

Other bidders and their offers were as follows:

  • MPIC-JGS Airport Consortium, P11.23 billion;
  • AAA Airport Partners led by Ayala and Aboitiz groups, P11.08 billion;
  • Filinvest-Changi Airport Consortium, P13.99 billion;
  • SMC-Incheon Airport Consortium, P9.05billion; and
  • First Philippine Airports Consortium, P4.7 billion.

In its letter to the DOTC-BAC, Filinvest-Changi group said GMR had a poor financial record and questionable long-term commitment, which could disrupt the implementation of the project.

The project involves the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building, with a capacity of about eight million passengers per year; renovation and expansion of the existing terminal; installation of all the required equipment; and the operation of both new and existing facilities.

Abaya said DOTC is also resolving a motion for reconsideration filed by E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture to open its financial bids for the P1.72 billion Automated Fare Collection System.

Another bidder, Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium, failed to meet the bid requirements.

DOTC did not open the bid of E-Trans, having substantial deficiencies that demonstrate its inability to implement the project.

The department was supposed to announce the winning bidder last December 23 or 24, while the notice of award should be issued on the first week of January. The contract signing was set on the final week of the same month.

Similar to Hong Kong’s “Octopus” card, the Philippine version would allow daily commuters to use a single ticket when they ride the LRT Lines 1 and 2, as well as the MRT Line 3. The three rail services have a combined ridership of a million a day.