DOTC sets new round of talks with bidders for LRT-2 operations

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to hold a second round of talks next month with the pre-qualified bidders for the operation and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2).

The DOTC’s General Bid Bulletin No. 18-2015 said the new round of one-on-one meetings with pre-qualified bidders is scheduled on October 5 to 9.

The DOTC has so far pre-qualified four groups for the project.

These are: Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and SMRT Transport Solutions Consortium; D.M. Consunji Inc. and Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd. Consortium; Light Rail Manila Holdings 2 Inc. (LRM2) Consortium (Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., RATP TRANSDEV Asia, and RATPDevelopment SA); and San Miguel Holdings Corp. and Korea Railroad Corp. Consortium.

The DOTC conducted the first round of one-on-one meetings with the pre-qualified groups in August.

Under the project, the private partner will undertake the operation and maintenance of the existing LRT-2 which covers Santolan station in Pasig until Recto station in Manila, the 4.14 kilometer East Extension as well as other future extensions to be implemented by the government during the project’s term.

The project will cover a cooperation period of 10 to 15 years.

The project seeks to infuse the efficiencies of the private sector in the operation and maintenance of the train system to provide the public a better riding experience.

The submission of bids for the pro-ject is scheduled in December.

The notice of award to the winning bidder will be issued in January, while the signing of the concession agreement is in February.

The project is being bid out under the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) program.

Launched in 2010, the PPP program is being implemented to address the country’s infrastructure gaps and promote sustained economic growth.