18 firms interested in Cavite-Laguna road project

MANILA, Philippines – Eighteen firms, including some of the country’s biggest conglomerates, are eyeing the P35-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) extension project.

READ:MVP, SMC , Ayala groups eye CALA expressway

The project, which will connect the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and South Luzon Expressway (Slex), is one of the big-ticket infrastructure projects of the Aquino government under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

READ: Cavite-Laguna toll road among priority PPP projects in 2013

In a statement on Tuesday, September 24, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said 18 firms have so far bought pre-qualification documents for the Calax bidding. The deadline of submission of the documents is on October 23.

The companies include:

• Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp.
• Ramon Ang-led San Miquel Corp.
• Ayala Corp.’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.
• Makati Development Corp.
• Aboitizland Inc.
• Megawide Engineering Excellence
• C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.

Foreign groups also expressed interest in the project. They include:

• Korea Expressway Corp.
• Alloy MTD Philippines Inc.
• Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.
• Leighton Contractors (Philippines) Inc.
• EGIS Projects Developer of Infrastructure & Service
• Tokwing Construction Corporation/STX Enterprises
• E.F.C Enterprises
• M/s IL & FS Transportation Networks Limited (ITNL)
• L & T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited
• Bouygues Travaux Publics
• Pacific Concrete, Inc./China Harbor Engineering

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the participation of foreign firms in the auction will result in a more competitive bidding process.

“The entry of foreign investors into the P35-billion road project will result in competitive strategies and alliances,” Singson said.

Moved deadline

DPWH last week decided to move the deadline of submission of the pre-qualification documents to October 23 from September 23 upon the request of prospective bidders.

READ: CALAX bidding deadline moved

The extension, Singson noted, gives participants more time to comply with bid requirements.

“The changes in the schedule were prompted mainly by the request of prospective bidders for CALAX inasmuch as there are foreign companies unfamiliar with the process and requirements for authentication of documents which might face difficulty in complying on the given timelines,” he said.

Toll road details

The project involves the financing, design and construction, operation and maintenance of the entire 4-lane, 47-kilometer, closed-system toll road linking Cavitex and Slex.

It starts in Kawit, Cavite and ends at the Slex-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Calax has 9 interchanges:

• Kawit
• Daang Hari
• Governor’s Drive
• Aguinaldo Highway
• Silang
• Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay
• Laguna Boulevard
• Technopark
• a toll barrier before Slex

– Rappler.com