DOTC resets bid for Southwest terminal

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has deferred the deadline for the submission of bids for the P2.5-billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) project-Southwest Terminal to Aug. 30.

DOTC Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco issued General Bid Bulletin 11-2014 moving the deadline for the submission of bids to Aug. 30 instead of June 16 due to the revised terms approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The original deadline of submission of bids for the project was scheduled last May 15 but was moved to June 16 as the DOTC amended the terms of the concession agreement to make it more attractive to prospective investors

The extension of the deadline would give interested bidders more time to comment on the revised bidding documents that was approved by the NEDA last June 2.

Limcaoco stated in the bulletin that the DOTC would conduct a third round of one-on-one meetings with interested bidders between July 7 and July 11.

Interested bidders include diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., conglomerate Ayala Corp. and property giant Ayala Land Inc. , Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Robinsons Land Inc. of taipan John Gokongwei, D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., Vicente T. Lao Construction, French-owned Egis Projects Philippines, Filinvest Land Inc. of taipan Andrew Gotianun; Megawide Construction Corp.; State Properties Corp.; and Expedition Properties Corp.

The Southwest terminal project is situated in a 2.9-hectare property located at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway. It would connect passengers coming from Cavite to other urban transport systems such as the future Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT) South Extension to Bacoor in Cavite, city bus, taxi, and other public utility vehicles plying Metro Manila.

The project would include a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, public information system, ticketing and baggage handling facilities and park-ride facilities.

The DOTC pointed out that the proponent would finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the ITS project for a period of 35 years.

NEDA also approved changes in the terms of the P4-billion ITS-South Terminal project at the FTI Complex along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The DOTC is also looking at putting up an ITS-North Terminal project to be situated either at the Manila Seedling Bank or near the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.