DOTC prequalifies 4 firms for transpo hub

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has prequalified four bidders for the construction of the P4-billion integrated transport system (ITS) South Terminal at the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) complex in Taguig City.

DOTC Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla announced the prequalification of Ayala Land Inc., Filinvest Land Inc. Datem Inc., and MWM Terminals led by Megawide Construction Corp. for the public private partnership (PPP) project.

Lotilla informed Ayala Land through a letter that it has been prequalified for the project together with Makati Development Corp. as construction contractor and Ayala Property Management Corp. as operation and maintenance (O&M) contractor.

However, Maju TMAS Sdn Bhd of Malaysia was not qualified to meet the O&M experience because it failed to comply with the notarized certification of project requirement.

Lotilla, who heads the agency’s Prequalification Bids and Awards Committee, also informed Filinvest Land that it was also prequalified for the project together with DDT Konstract Inc. as construction contractor as well as Festival Supermall Inc. and Pro-Excel Property Managers Inc. as O&M contractors.

The DOTC official, however, said EEI Corp. did not qualify for the development experience of the group led by Filinvest Land due to incomplete document submission.

Other bidders that were prequalified are Datem together with LKY Development Corp. as O&M contractor and MWM Terminals led by Megawide and WM Property Management Inc.

DOTC Michael Arthur Sagcal earlier said the prequalified bidders would be allowed to submit their technical and financial bids for the PPP projects in April next year.

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Robinsons Land Inc. of tycoon John Gokongwei earlier bought bidding documents from the DOTC but did not submit prequalification documents last Nov. 25.

The South terminal would connect passengers from the Laguna and Batangas side to other urban transport systems such as the proposed North-South Commuter Rail of the Philippine National Railways, city buses, taxis, and other public utility vehicles that serve inner Metro Manila.

The project would include a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, public information systems, ticketing and baggage holding facilities as well as park-ride facilities.

On the other hand, interested companies for the P2.5-billion ITS -Southwest Terminal project at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway have until Dec. 12 to submit their qualification documents.