Source: BusinessWorld Online
FIRMS LOOKING to bid for a contract to maintain and operate two Metro Manila rapid transit railways will have to deal with stiffer qualifications, a government official yesterday said.
The Light Rail Transit Line 1 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 deals have been integrated and the cost has been increased to P15 billion from P14 billion, Transportation Undersecretary Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr. yesterday said.
“The cost has been increased to P15 billion because the previous estimate did not include the power cost,” said Mr. Reinoso, chairman of the Special Bids and Awards Committee.
Since potential investors should have completed a similar contract with a value of 50% of the LRT-1/MRT-3 deal, this requirement has also increased to P7.5 billion from P7 billion, he said.
“The investors should understand that the government has to make sure that anybody who wants to operate [the railways] can really do it. Through this, the financial capacity of the firms will also be demonstrated,” Mr. Reinoso said.
Forty-five firms submitted their expression of interest in bidding for the light railways last month. Of these, 10 had already bought bid documents as of yesterday.
The 10 firms are: Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Ayala Corp., DM Consunji, Inc., Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc., Sumitomo Corp., Marubeni Corp., SERCO, Abratique and Associates Philippines, Inc., Ecorail Transport Services, Inc. and Autre Porte Technique Global, Inc.
The deadline for purchasing bid documents has been extended to July 10 from May 4 and submissions should be made by July 11.
Light Rail Transit Authority spokesman Hernando T. Cabrera said the deadline for bid document purchases was extended to “avoid limiting bidders that want to partake in the auction.”
“A pre-bid conference is scheduled for May 18… only those that have bought bid documents will be invited. In addition, there will be a site inspection to be scheduled but only for those who have bought bid documents,” Mr. Cabrera said.
The LRT-1/MRT-3 project is the first public-private partnership (PPP) offered by the government this year.
Other PPP deals set to be offered this year include the Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway link (P1.4 billion), Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway (P10.59 billion) and the North Luzon and South Luzon expressway link (P21 billion).
