DPWH finalizing agreements for Cavite-Laguna expressway

MANILA, Philippines – The proposed Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) project will soon be underway, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finalizing agreements with various companies for the P35.4-billion project. 

In Supplemental Bid Bulletin No. 37, DPWH undersecretary Eugenio Pipo Jr. said the agency is finalizing the MOA with the Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation regarding the interconnection of the Calax with the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

“The DPWH is in the process of finalizing the MOA with the Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. regarding the interconnection of Calax with the Cavitex,” he stated.

“DPWH shall ensure the interconnection of Calax with Mamplasan Interchange and will secure the necessary agreements and consent from Greenfield Development Corp., South Luzon Tollway Corp., and the Toll Regulatory Board.”

This is the third public private partnership (PPP) expressway project under the Aquino administration, following the P2-billion Daang Hari-SLEX link project scheduled for completion by June 2015 and the ongoing P15.5-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) expressway project.

Last May 19, the agency discussed the proposed changes in the alignment of the project with the prequalified bidders:

• The Ayala-led Team “Orion” composed of the consortium of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Aboitiz Land Inc., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.
• Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s MPCALA Holdings Inc.
• San Miguel Corporation’s Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc.
• Malaysia’s Alloy MTD Philippines

Under the revised DPWH guidelines, bidders are required to submit a bid either as a concession payment to the government or viability gap funding not exceeding P5 billion.

The original guidelines pegged the bid to the 2018 toll fee per kilometer for Class 1 vehicles.

Under the new guidelines, bidders who would offer a premium instead of asking for a subsidy would likely win the project as the government is reluctant to pay the subsidy to generate more savings. 

For the third time, the DPWH also deferred the submission of bids for the project to June 2 instead of May 21 to give bidders enough time to prepare their documents.

The proposed 4-lane expressway is expected to provide a faster and more convenient route between Metro Manila and the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon). – Rappler.com