MPIC, SMC to bid for Daang Hari-SLEX project

MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) group and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are among the 18 private companies that will vie for the right to construct the multi-billion peso Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) project under the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) program.

MPIC wholly owned subsidiary Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) confirmed that it attended the prequalification conference and bought the bid documents.

SMC president Ramon Ang meanwhile reiterated to The STAR that they are participating in all the biddings that will be conducted under the PPP program, including the Daang Hari-SLEX project.

The project, estimated to cost around P1.96 billion, is expected to cut travel time from Daang Hari Road from Cavite to the Alabang Interchange to ease traffic within Cavite, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa.

“We’re studying the TOR. We will know in less than three months,” MPTC president Ramoncito Fernandez said, referring to the terms of reference of the project.

The bidding for the project will follow the two-stage/two envelope system for soliciting proposals under the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

Under this process, prospective bidders are first pre-qualified based on minimum legal, technical and financial requirements set by the DPWH.

The project involves the construction of a four-kilometer, four-lane toll road from Daang Hari in Bacoor, Cavite to SLEX near the Susana Heights interchange, passing through the New Bilibid Prison Reservation.

The project will provide an alternative route from Cavite to Metro Manila, aiming to increase the competitiveness of the Southern Luzon region as an investment destination.

The Daang Hari Road connects Las Piñas to neighboring Bacoor town, Muntinlupa City, and San Pedro town in Laguna.

Besides the Daang Hari Road project, MPTC proposed the construction of the North Luzon Expressway-SLEX Link Project.

Fernandez said the National Economic and Development Authority is evaluating the project’s reasonable rate of return, in time for the preparation of the TOR for the Swiss challenge.

MPTC will spend P21 billion for the construction of the NLEX-SLEX link, while about P2 billion shall be spent for additional rights of way.