DOTC awards consultancy contract for LRT 2 Ext

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has awarded the consultancy contract for the civil works of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 2 east extension project worth P9.7 billion to Masinag in Pasig City to a Korean consortium.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has issued a Notice of Award to the consortium of Foresight Development and Surveying Company, Soosung Engineering Co. Ltd., and Korea Rail Network Authority.

The consortium submitted a bid of P240.78 million or more than P100 million lower than the approved budget for contract of P350 million for the project.

The consortium edged the group composed of JF Cancio & Associates in association with Development Engineering & Management Corp., Engineering & Development Corp. of the Philippines, Filipinas Dravo Corp., TCGI Engineers, Urban Integrated Consultants Inc., and Oriental Consultants Co. Ltd.

Other groups that were shortlisted included the consortium of Schema Konsult Inc., Pertconsult International, KE Asia Inc., DCCD Engineering Corp., Key Engineers Co., and Proconsult Inc.; the tandem of Systra Philippines and Philipps Technical Consultants Corp. as well as the joint venture between Science and Vision for Technology Inc. and Yooshin Engineering Corp.

Of the five groups that were prequalified, the group led by Foresight Development only managed to pass the technical proposal requirement.

The groups led by JF Cancio & Associates, Schema Consult as well as the tandem of Systra and Philipps filed a motion for consideration.

This project was originally offered earlier this year, but the DOTC declared a failed bidding last February when only one of the interested parties was able to meet the eligibility requirements of Republic Act No. 9184 otherwise known as the Procurement Law. 

The project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) July of last year. It would make travel from Rizal province to Manila easier and faster.