DOTC seeks bids for P60-B LRT 1 extension project

MANILA, Philippines - The transportation department is inviting interested firms to participate in the pre-qualification and bidding for the P60-billion extension of Line 1 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

“The DOTC’s (Department of Transportation and Communications) Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee is inviting local and international companies to an open and transparent bidding process. They can pre-qualify and submit proposals in the international tender for the Manila Line 1 extension, operations, and maintenance,” the department said in a published notice yesterday.

Of the P60-billion approved budget cost of the project, P30 billion will go to the construction works for the extension of LRT Line 1 until Cavite, while the balance, which will come from a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will be used by the government to purchase train coaches.

The existing LRT Line 1 runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City until Baclaran in Pasay City.

The DOTC said the bidder must be able to provide the design, engineering, construction works as well as completion of the extension of the existing LRT Line 1 until Cavite.

“The Cavite extension will increase the span of Line 1 from 20.7 kms (kilometers) to 32.4 kms,” the DOTC said.

It noted that approximately 10.5 kms of the extension project will be elevated.

   The extension will involve adding stations to the existing railway which are: Redemtorist, Manila International Airport Road, Asia World, N. Aquino, Dr. Santos, Manuyo Uno, Las Pinas, Zapote, Talaaba, and Niyog in Bacoor.

   The DOTC said the bidder must also be able to operate and maintain the LRT Line 1.

   By being responsible for the operations and maintenance of the railway, the bidder will have to be able to replace the train fleet, and undertake the required rehabilitation works on the railway infrastructure and systems over the life of the concession.

   Firms interested in the project can get a copy of the invitation to pre-qualify and bid, information memorandum and instructions to prospective bidders at DOTC’s office from June 1 to August 21, for a non-refundable fee of P50,000.

   “Only persons who have purchased the invitation documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-qualification and bidding process,” the DOTC said.

   Interested firms must submit their pre-qualification documents on or before 2 p.m. on August 22 at the DOTC office.

   About 500,000 commuters use the existing LRT Line 1 daily.

   With a large number of the population in the south of Metro Manila traveling daily to the central business districts in Metro Manila, it is expected that up to an additional 500,000 daily commuters will benefit from the project.

   DOTC Secretary Manuel Roxas II said earlier they expect half of the works on the project to be completed by late 2014 and the other half by late 2015.

   In April, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., formed a partnership for the development of light rail projects and real estate development projects.