‘Sweeteners’ delay bid submission deadline for south Metro Manila bus hubs

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Photo from ppp.gov.ph
Photo from ppp.gov.ph
Photo from ppp.gov.ph

Sweeteners have been provided by government for the multibillion-peso integrated transport terminal project in southwestern Metro Manila to enhance their appeal to bidders, but the trade-off is a further delay in bidding out the project.

The deadline for submission of bids for the P2.5-billion Integrated Transport System (ITS)-Southwest Terminal project is likely to be postponed, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The deadline for submitting bids for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project was originally scheduled last May 15 but was moved to June 16.

On June 1, Transport Secretary Joseph Abaya said the June deadline is likely to be moved again to give bidders enough time to prepare their documents after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the revised terms of the project.

“These revisions were made in order to improve their commercial attractiveness to bidders,” DOTC said.

The ITS-South Terminal will be built at the Food Terminal Inc (FTI) Complex along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), while the ITS-Southwest Terminal will be along the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said some changes to the terms are: 1) the proponent may be allowed to construct access road; 2) option to increase project land by 1.9 hectares; and 3) change in bid parameter from the highest concession fee to the lowest service fee to the government.

The southwestern terminal will rise on a 2.9-hectare property at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway. It will include arrival and departure bays, a passenger terminal building, public information system, ticketing and baggage handling facilities, and park-ride facilities.

It will connect passengers from Cavite to transport systems such as city buses and public utility vehicles bound for Metro Manila and the future Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT 1) South Extension to Bacoor.

The P4-billion ITS-South Terminal project at the FTI Complex will connect passengers from the Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and the Bicol region to transportation leading to inner Metro Manila and routes further north.

Groups interested to bid for the projects include San Miguel Corp.; Ayala Corp.; Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.; Robinsons Land Inc.; D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc.; Vicente T. Lao Construction; Egis Projects Philippines; Filinvest Land Inc.; Megawide Construction Corp.; State Properties Corp., and Expedition Properties Corp.The DOTC said the winning bidder would finance, design, construct, and operate the project for 35 years.

Abaya said DOTC is also planning a third terminal – the ITS-North Terminal – in Quezon City near EDSA.