DOTC clears 4 groups for LRT Ext project

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has given four groups that submitted pre-qualification documents last month the green light to join the bidding for the P60.6-billion light rail transit (LRT-1) extension to Cavite.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a text message that the agency has cleared the participation of the Light Rail Manila Consortium, MTD-Samsung Group, San Miguel Infrastructure Resources Inc., and DMCI Holdings Inc.

The four groups were able to submit their pre-qualification documents last Oct. 22.

The Light Rail Manila consortium is led by First Pacific’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) with 33 percent followed by diversified conglomerate Ayala Corp. 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 s PA.The operation and maintenance would be handled by RATP Development SA.

On the other hand, the MTD-Samsung group 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 would 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.

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. through San Miguel Infra Resources Inc. lead the group composed of GS Engineering and construction Corp. and POSCO Engineering and Construction Co ltd. The railway set would be taken care of POSCO Engineering Co Ltd. and the railway system would be handled by Korea Railroad Corp.

Meanwhile, construction giant DM Consunji Inc. lead the DMCI group composed of Marubeni Corp. and Sistema Tranporte Collectivo Metrorey.

During the submission of pre-qualification documents last Oct. 22, the DOTC rejected the late submissions made by Ecorail of businessman and Luzon Rail Transit System and Ecorail.

The DOTC is set to bid out the contract as early as January next year.

Meanwhile, DOTC undersecretary Rene Limcaoco told participants of the PPP and Infrastructure Forum hosted by the British Embassy the other day that the agency intends to award the P30-billion contract to the winning bidder by the second quarter of next year.