PRESS RELEASE
28 October 2014

(UPDATED) At least a dozen companies showed up at the pre-qualification (PQ) conference for the Manila LRT Line 2 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). The participants represented the various companies that might partner with prospective bidders, San Miguel Corporation, GT Capita Holdings, Inc., Marubeni Philippines, Corp. and the Ayala Corp. – Metro pacific Investments Corp., RATP Development, D.M. Consunji, Inc., APT Global Inc., and Globalvia.

Companies like MEISCORRAIL, Hyundai Rotem Company, TUV Rheinland, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, MTR Hong Kong, SMRT, DMCI, AC Infra also fielded representatives to the PQ Conference to clarify issues.

Under the PPP process, a PQ Conference offers prospective bidders the opportunity to raise questions, clarify matters before the Project Bids and Awards Committee of an Implementing Agency. The PBAC then provides its official answers or instructions in the form of Bid Bulletins.

Speaking before prospective bidders during the Conference, DOTC Undersecretary and PBAC Chair Perpetuo M. Lotilla for the Manila LRT Line 2 O&M 2 said, “In line with the government’s objective to make everything more efficient, more nimble and address the needs of the people in Metro Manila — this project was conceived and being offered to the private sector to do the operation and maintenance.”

The LRT Line 2 is the second rail project of the DOTC to be tendered this year. Previously, the DOTC awarded the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Operation and Maintenance, the Mactan–Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Station and the Automatic Fare Collection System, a common contactless ticketing system, which will be installed in all MRT, LRT Line and Line 2 stations.

Under the LRT Line 2 project, the private sector will take on the responsibility of operating and maintaining the existing line, including the 4.14 kilometer east extension to Masinag, and all other future extension that the government may undertake. Under a PPP arrangement, the government will, however retain ownership of the LRT facility.

The DOTC recently moved the deadline for the submission of qualification documents from November 20 to December 15, 2014.