Ayala Group sets sights on LRT-2 O&M contract

MANILA, Philippines – Conglomerate Ayala Corp. is interested in the operations and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) after being part of a consortium that bagged the P65- billion LRT-1 Extension project.

Ayala Corp. managing director John Eric Francia cited the synergies between LRT-1 and LRT-2.

“Ayala is interested in LRT-2 operations and its maintenance because of its synergies with LRT-1,” Francia said in a text message.

Ayala through AC Infrastructure Holdings has a 35 percent stake in the Light Rail Manila Consortium that bagged that largest public private partnership (PPP) project awarded by the government so far.

Infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) through MPIC Light Rail Corp. is the lead member of the group with 55 percent while Macquaire Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. has a 10 percent stake.

“Ayala and MPIC have a cooperation for rail in Manila, though we have yet to decide on the specific LRT-2 opportunity,” Francia said.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is privatizing the operations and maintenance of LRT-2 under the public private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Interested bidders are given until Nov. 20 to submit their prequalification documents. Bidders who fulfill the qualification requirements would be shortlisted as prequalified bidders entitled to submit bid proposals.

The winning bidder would operate and maintain the existing 13.8 kilometer LRT-2 from C. M. Recto Ave. in Avenida, Manila to Santolan in Pasig City with 11 stations as well as the proposed P9.7 billion extension project covering an additional 4.19 kilometers and two stations all the way to Masinag in Antipolo City.

The winner would also operate and maintain other future extension of the LRT-2 system.

The extension is expected to further increase the current 200,000 daily passenger volume of the mass transit system that traverses the cities of Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, and Pasig.