Gov’t bidding out rehab of old LRT-1 trains

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is bidding out the repair work for 23 old and dilapidated light rail vehicles on LRT Line 1.

In an invitation to bid published on September 14, the DOTC said the rehabilitation of the vehicles will cost P203 million.

Of that sum, P150 million will go toward rehabilitating 21 “dilapidated” light rail vehicles with the brand BN.

“The car bodies of these 21 units have corroded and rusted out from the 14 years of use since they were last rehabilitated. Rehabilitation should bring an improved appearance and reliability to the old BN cars,” said the invitation.

Another P23 million will be used for the restoration of two 3rd Generation Kinki-Sharyo vehicles. These were involved in train collision incidents, one at Balintawak and the other at Roosevelt. DOTC said body repairs and the replacement of damaged parts are crucial for the two to be put into commercial operation.

LRT 1, also called the Green Line, carries about 500,000 commuters every day. The 20-station railway system runs along a 20.7 kilometer stretch from Roosevelt in the North to Baclaran in the South.

Commuters use LRT 1 to connect to Line 2, also known as the Blue Line, and Line 3, or the Yellow Line.

Invite for feasibility study for airports

In an effort to further pump-prime the economy, the DOTC also invited firms to bid for separate feasibility studies for the proposed Bukidnon airport and the upgrade of the existing Surigao City and Naga airports.

DOTC said interested consultants should submit their eligibility documents on or before September 26, 2012.

The DOTC added that it will shortlist 5 prospective bidders for each project based on the interested firms’ applicable experience, qualified personnel and current workload.

Only those in the shortlist will be able to submit a formal bid for the airports. DOTC said the airport projects should help stimulate the economy, generate jobs and provide more efficient transportation in the countryside. – Rappler.com