The contract to build the P65-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) Cavite Extension (Cavex) Project, the government’s biggest public-private partnership (PPP) project so far, has been awarded by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to the Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC).
“We are pleased to push the project forward for the sake of the riding public, especially those who live in the southern part of Metro Manil, a such as Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa, as well as Cavite,” Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a statement.
LRMC now has 20 days from September 12 to comply with post-award requirements, including paying 10% of its P9.35-billion premium bid amount, before the concession agreement can be executed by the parties.
LRMC is composed of the Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines), Inc.
“We envision a state-of-the-art train system that will bring a different rail experience to our commuters, including the introduction of an Automated Fare Collection System in the 11.7-kilometer Cavite Extension that will improve passenger comfort and convenience by cutting queuing time, and allowing seamless transfers from one rail line to another,” Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investment Corp., the investment holding company of Metro Pacific Rail, said in a statement.
The award is subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court (SC) over the location of the Common Station project in the EDSA-North Avenue area that will serve to connect LRT 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, and MRT 7.
The LRT 1 Cavex bid includes a component for the design of the Common Station, supposed to be located in front of TriNoma. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is, however, contesting the site in a bid to have the Common Station moved next to its mall, SM North EDSA, and has obtained a temporary restraining order from the SC.
Funding for the construction of the common station will be procured separately once the case is resolved, DOTC said.
LRMC should begin construction of LRT 1 and take over its operations within one year of the signing of the concession agreement, or by October 2015. The project should be fully operational within 54 months, or by May 2019.
Meanwhile, DOTC on September 13 launched the tender for another PPP project, the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for LRT-2.
The 13.8-kilometer LRT-2 will traverse the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon, Marikina, and Pasig, serving around 200,000 passengers daily.
The winning bidder will take over the O&M of all 11 stations along the existing line, as well as the 4.19-kilometer LRT-2 Masinag extension, construction of which is scheduled to begin in January 2015. The concession period is from 10 to 15 years.
Deadline for submission of pre-qualification documents is November 20, while bidding is scheduled for the second quarter of 2015.
Photo from www.dotc.gov.ph
