Source: Business World
THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is finalizing adjustments to the design of the P1.6-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) link in a bid to enable the government to formally invite bidders for the project by next month, the agency’s chief said yesterday.
“We will publish [the invitation to bid] by mid-June, because we had to clear the final alignment, which needs NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) clearance,” Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said via text.
The 3.68-kilometer thoroughfare connecting Bacoor, Cavite to SLEx originally required its own exit, as the National Development Co. (NDC) proposed, the Cabinet official recalled.
“The [exit] proposed by the NDC was not approved by the TRB (Toll Regulatory Board) because it was too close to the existing Susana Heights exit,” Mr. Singson explained.
“We are, instead, aligning the exit to the existing one in Susana Heights,” he added, noting the proposal had already been submitted to NEDA and is up for review.
NEDA officials were not available for comment as of yesterday afternoon.
Key project
The government initially aimed to release a bidding invitation for the project last month, but NEDA gave its approval just last April 29.
The Daang Hari-SLEx link is intended to decongest traffic in Las Piñas and Muntinlupa cities as it cuts through the New Bilibid Prison Reservation and provides direct access to the rapidly developing municipalities of Cavite.
Other priorities
The government has made it one of its priority infrastructure projects under its public-private partnership (PPP) thrust. These projects, in turn, are a key strategy the government has adopted to prod the economy to grow at a sustainable, faster pace.
Besides the Daang Hari-SLEx link, the government hopes to auction off four other PPP projects this year, namely: the operation and maintenance contracts for Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) worth P7.7 billion and P6.3 billion, respectively; the P10.59-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway; and the P21-billion North Luzon-SLEx link. — E. J. Diaz
