4 groups bid for LRT-1 Extension project

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) accepted yesterday the pre-qualified documents submitted by four consortia for a shot at a P30 billion contract to extend and operate the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 1 extension from Baclaran to Bacoor in Cavite.

 DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla said about six entities led by the tandem of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., the unit of diversified Conglomerate San Miguel Corp., DM Consunji Inc., the partnership of MTD Capital and Samsung, Ecorail, and Luzon Rail Transit System.

“Of the 33 entities that purchased the pre qualification documents, it would appear that those who submitted the pre-qualification documents were six entities,” Lotilla said.

The DOTC only accepted the documents submitted by the tandem of MPIC and Ayala, San Miguel Infrastructure Resources Corp., DMCI, and the partnership of MTD Capital and Samsung.

The agency did not accept documents submitted by Luzon Rail Transit System and Ecorail after they failed to meet the 2 p.m. deadline set by the DOTC.

“The rule is very clear,” Lotilla added.

The first to submit was Light Rail Manila consortium where MPIC has a 33 percent stake followed by Ayala with 33 percent, AC Infra Holdings Corp. with 12 percent, Macguarie Infra Holdings Philippines PTE Ltd. with 10 percent, and RATP Development SA with one participation unit.

 The group’s railway infrastructure would be handled by Bouygues travaux Publics SA, Obrascon Huarte Lain SA, and Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd. while the railway system would be handled by Alstom Transport Sa and Ansaldo STS  SpA. The operation and maintenance would be handled by RATP Development SA.

On the other hand, the San Miguel Infra Resources Inc. is composed of GS Engineering and construction Corp. and POSCO Engineering and Construction Co Ltd. The railway set will be taken care of POSCO Engineering Co Ltd. and the railway system would be handled by Korea Railroad Corp.

The MTD Samsung is composed of MTD Capital Bhd. with 33 percent followed by Samsung C&T Corp. with 20 percent, Union Equities Inc. with 15 percent, DM Wenceslao & Associates with 12 percent, and Primewater Infra Corp. with 20 percent. The railway infrastructure will be handled by MTD Capital and Samsung C&T and system by Hyundai Rotern Co. The operation and management will be handled by Seoul Metro.

The DMCI group is composed of Marubeni Corp. and Sistema Tranporte Collectivo Metrorey.

Bidders were given more time to finalize their pre-qualification documents as the deadline was moved anew to Oct. 22 instead of Sept. 28. This was the second extension given by the government to interested parties as the original deadline was last Aug. 22.

Lotilla said the civil works including the construction of the tracks, the stations and all its attendant facilities, as well as operation and maintenance worth about P30 billion would be auctioned to interested investors in January.