Manila Times, 07 June 2012

The government is confident in achieving the target of eight public-private partnership projects this year as President Benigno Aquino 3rd gave the go signal to start the Invitation to Pre-qualify to Bid for the second phase of the P15.86-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway project this month, according to Philippine PPP Center on Wednesday.

In a statement, PPP Center Executive Director Cosette Canilao expressed satisfaction over the announcement of the Invitation to Pre-qualify to Bid for the project.

Canilao also congratulated the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for rolling out one of the country’s mega infrastructure projects under the PPP program of government.

”This is indeed an achievement for the DPWH and the program itself. We knew that it could work and now we are seeing projects being rolled out. We are confident that we will hit our target of eight projects for 2012,” he said.

The NAIA Expressway (Phase 2) project is the government’s third PPP priority project lined up for bidding this year and was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board on May 30.

The NAIA Expressway project involves the maintenance and improvement of the existing NAIA Expressway Phase 1 road; the construction of Phase 2 of the NAIA Expressway; the construction of at-grade feeder roads leading to and from the Philippine Amusement and gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Entertainment City; the operation and maintenance of the completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 as a toll road; and the maintenance of the at-grade feeder road as a free road.

The alignment for Phase 2 involves the construction of a 4.83-kilometer road from the NAIA Expressway Phase 1 following the existing road alignment over Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road and NAIA Road, and ends with entry/exit ramps at the Roxas Boulevard/Manila Cavite Toll Expressway, the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and Pagcor Entertainment City.

The total length of the NAIA Express way is 9.37 kilometers comprised of 7.15 kilometers elevated portion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 and its ramps, and the 2.22-kilometer at-grade portion.

The project will help ease traffic going to and from the Manila International Airport at the NAIA complex, giving high-speed access to NAIA Terminal 3 at 55 kilometers per hour. It will also provide direct links to passenger terminals 1 and 2, including the International Cargo Terminal, increasing passenger traffic at the Manila International Airport and increasing needed high-speed access route at the Manila International Airport.

It will also link the Southern Luzon Expressway/Skyway to the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway and both Roxas and Macapagal Boulevard, providing easy access to the Entertainment City of Pagcor.

The DPWH project will be implemented under the Build Transfer and Operate contractual arrangement.

LRT 1 extension
Meanwhile, PPP Center said that recently, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) have also released the official Invitation to Pre-qualify and Bid for the P60-billion LRT Line 1-Cavite Extension Project.

The existing 20.7-kilometer LRT 1 is now up for an 11.7-kilometer extension and service improvement as private sector participation, efficiency and expertise are now being tapped under the PPP program

The existing train system, which runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in Pasay, is set to be extended to Bacoor, Cavite. The system upgrade is expected to benefit an additional 500,000 commuters living south of Metro Manila—Parañaque, Las Piñas and the province of Cavite.

The actual project involves five key project components, namely: the operation and maintenance of the existing system; design and overall construction of the Cavite extension facilities; integration of the existing and extension systems; operation and maintenance of the integrated system; and the system enhancement works covering whole-of-life investments for the integrated system.

The DOTC has engaged the Development Bank of the Philippines and International Finance Corp.—a member of the World Bank Group—as its transaction advisors for this project.

The PPP Center said that the bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign.

Pre-bidding documents such as invitation to pre-qualify and bid; and instructions to prospective bidders, including annexes are available at the DOTC Main Office for distribution to interested parties until August 21 for a non-refundable fee of P50,000.