DOTr invites Japanese firms to bid for 3 PPP projects

• The Department of Transportation invited Japanese firms to bid for 3 Public-Private Partnership projects

• Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista pitched two railways and one airport PPP projects at the recent Philippine Investment Opportunities forum in Tokyo

• These are the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport rehabilitation

• The two rail projects cover operations and maintenance contracts

• The NAIA contract involves rehabilitation, operation and expansion of the country’s main gateway and connecting it to the subway

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is inviting Japanese firms to bid for three public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the railway and aviation sector.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista pitched two railways and an airport project during the Philippine Investment Opportunities forum at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Office in Takebashi, Tokyo, Japan on August 29.

The operations and maintenance contracts of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are being bidded out as well as the contract to rehabilitate, operate and expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), including connecting it to the subway project.

The 36-kilometer MMSP comes with a P76.89-billion (¥192.23 billion) cost and covers operations and maintenance for subway trains, stations, depot, and other systems infrastructure.

The maintenance of facilities and equipment under the Philippine Railway Institute, collection of passenger fares, and commercial development rights within prescribed station boundaries is part of the 15-year contract.

Bidding is expected to be conducted between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.

The 147-km NSCR costs P204.6 billion (¥511.5 billion) and includes operations and maintenance of trains, stations, depot, and other systems and infrastructure, with a concession period of 15 years of full operations in addition to a partial operations period.

Bidding is from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024.

The project covers interoperation management within the rail system by trains from other lines, such as the subway project; collection of passenger fares; and exercise of commercial development rights within prescribed station boundaries.

The P170.6-billion (¥426.5 billion) NAIA project aims to address longstanding challenges plaguing the airport, the country’s primary international gateway.

Bidding has already commenced last August 23.

RELATED READ: DOTR opens bidding for NAIA rehab

The airport project, designed to increase annual capacity to at least 62 million passengers, includes rehabilitation of airport terminals and improved operations and maintenance of the airport’s airside and landside facilities.

“The concessionaire’s aeronautical revenues will consist of passenger service charges, landing and takeoff fees, aircraft parking, tacking, and cargo, and others. The Concessionaire will be allowed to conduct airport-related commercial activities within the project land,” Bautista said.