DOTC sets bidding for LRT-1 extension project

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has set separate pre-bidding meetings with the four pre-qualified bidders for the P60.6-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT 1) extension project in Cavite.

Lawyer Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, DOTC Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and chairman of the special bids and awards committee, said the pre-bidding meetings with the Light Rail Manila Consortium, SMC Infra Resources Inc., DMCI Holdings Inc., and MTD Samsung Consortium, will be held on Feb. 22.

The meeting will be the first of several one-on-one conferences so the bidders can clarify with DOTC-SBAC certain issues on the project, and to help them prepare their bid proposals.

The four companies had submitted their pre-qualification documents for the bidding last Oct. 22.

The DOTC has rejected documents submitted late by the Ecorail of businessman Reghis Romero II, and the Luzon Rail Transit System.

The Light Rail Manila Consortium is comprised of First Pacific’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Ayala Corp., AC Infra Holdings Corp., Macguarie Infra Holdings Philippines PTE Ltd., and RATP Development SA.

The group’s railway construction would be handled by the Bouygues Travaux Publics SA, Obrascon Huarte Lain SA, and Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd. The railway system would be handled by the Alstom Transport and Ansaldo STS PA, and the operation and maintenance by the RATP Development SA.

The MTD-Samsung group is composed of MTD Capital Bhd., Samsung C&T Corp., Union Equities Inc., DM Wenceslao & Associates, and Primewater Infra Corp. The railway construction would be handled by MTD Capital and Samsung C&T, the system by Hyundai Rotem Co., and the operation and management by Seoul Metro.

SMC Infra Resources is led by diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., and is joined by GS Engineering and Construction Corp., and POSCO Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. The railway construction will be handled by the POSCO Engineering Co. Ltd., and the system by Korea Railroad Corp.

Meanwhile, construction giant DM Consunji Inc. leads the group composed of Marubeni Corp. and Sistema Tranporte Collectivo Metrorey.