DOTC extends document deadline for LRT 1 Ext independent consultant

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has deferred the submission of qualification documents for an independent consultant for the P65-billion Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension project.

DOTC undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued General Bid Bulletin 02-2014 postponing the submission and opening of eligibility documents for the P834.5-million contract to Dec. 19 instead of yesterday.

The new deadline was set as the DOTC issued the revised Terms of Reference for the procurement of an independent consultant for the largest public private partnership (PPP) project so far awarded by the Aquino administration.

Light Rail Transit Authority spokesman Hernando Cabrera earlier said the consultant would check the performance of the concessionaire of the LRT-1 system as well as the commitments of the government.

 “The independent consultant will check the performance of the concessionaire on one hand, and the commitments of the government, DOTC, and LRTA on the other hand,” Cabrera said in a text message.

The government and the tandem of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and conglomerate Ayala Corp. signed the concession agreement for the largest public private partnership (PPP) project awarded so far by the Aquino administration last Oct. 2.

MPIC’s Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. controls 55 percent of the Light Rail Manila Consortium followed by Ayala’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. with 35 percent and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd. with 10 percent.

Under the agreement, LRMC would operate and maintain the existing LRT-1 from Roosevelt in Quezon City up to Baclaran and at the same time construct an 11.7-km extension to the Niog area in Bacoor, Cavite consisting of eight new train stations traversing the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas up to Bacoor.

LRMC has forged partnerships with three leading French companies to deliver a world-class rail transit system. Both Bouygues Travaux Publics and Alstom Transport are well known for their impressive track records in constructing mass rail transit systems in France and other parts of the world while the RATP Group that operates Paris Metro, has been tapped as technical partner.

The DOTC and LRTA as well as the LRMC find it necessary to retain the services of an independent consultant.

The consultant would certify whether the identified right of way submitted by the concessionaire is necessary to complete the Cavite extension and whether or not the existing system would meet the requirements.