SMC, Ayala, MPIC eye P2.5B terminal project

MANILA, Philippines – Seven firms are eyeing to bid for the proposed P2.5-billion Integrated Transport System project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

The project deals with the creation of a Southwest terminal, connecting passengers coming from Cavite to other urban transport systems. The transport systems that will take advantage of the transit terminal include the Light Rail Transit line 1 South Extension to Bacoor in Cavite, city buses and taxis, as well as other public utility vehicles serving Metro Manila.

Cosette Canilao, executive director of the PPP Center, listed the following as interested bidders:

• San Miguel Corporation (SMC)
• Ayala Land Inc.
• Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC)
• Robinsons Land Inc.
• D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc.
• Vicente T. Lao Construction
• Egis Projects Philippines

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has given the companies until May 15 to submit their bids for the Southwest terminal project, which will rise on a 2.9-hectare property located at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

The DOTC pointed out the winner of the bidding would have to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the project for 35 years. The project includes setting up a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, a public information system, ticketing and baggage handling facilities, and park-ride facilities.

Interested bidders must have a net worth of at least P600 million and prove they can raise P1.4 billion for the project. They must also have local or international experience within the last 10 years and have finished at least one eligible project with a P2-billion cost that has a capacity of at least 300 vehicle parking bays.

Bidders should also know how to operate and maintain one or more bus terminals with a total bus parking capacity of at least 40 passenger buses and a minimum parking capacity of at least 20 buses per terminal.

Bidders could also have one or more commercial complexes, shopping malls, airport terminals, parking complexes, or freight terminals that hold at least 160 parking bays for land transport vehicles with a minimum capacity of 80 parking bays over the last 3 consecutive years.

This project is one of 7 major infrastructure projects worth P184.2 billion approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board.

It involves setting up 3 mass transporation intermodal terminals on the outskirts of Metro Manila – one north of EDSA, and two in the south serving Laguna or Batangas on one side and Cavite on the other.

The project hopes to improve road usage by lessening the number of vehicles on the road and reducing provincial bus traffic, improving the traffic flow along Metro Manila’s main roads. – Rappler.com