Calax bidders want more time to submit proposals

MANILA, Philippines – Prequalified groups bidding for the P34.5-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) project are asking for more time to submit their proposals, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Rafael Yabut.

In an interview with Rappler, Yabut, chairman of the DPWH bids and awards committee, said the 4 groups prequalified to join the bidding want the submission of bids and opening of technical proposals moved. Both were scheduled on Jan. 20, 2014.

“They want to extend it, so we said, submit your position [papers] on why you want it extended,” Yabut said.

Calax is one of the big-ticket infrastructure projects to be bid out under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership program. Launched in 2010, the program aims to create vital infrastructure that will support the country’s economic growth.

The 4 firms prequalified by DPWH include:

• 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 Corporations’s MPCALA Holdings Inc.
• San Miguel Corporation’s Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc.
• Alloy MTD Philippines

The 47-kilometer Calax will start from the Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEX-Mamplasan in Biñan, Laguna. It will consist of 9 interchanges – at Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Laguna Blvd., Technopark, and a toll barrier before SLEX.

Concerns raised

Yabut said the firms expressed concerns over the technical aspects and commercial viability of the project during a pre-bid conference conducted by DPWH officials.

One of the issues raised was real property tax.

“Real property tax, imagine that’s 47 kilometers, who will pay for it? The firm or the government?” Yabut said in a mix of Filipino and English.

According to him, the firms also asked about default payments and step-in rights.

“(On) step-in rights, for example, the firm is unable to finish the project. Then government will have to step in. What will the government pay them? How will they be compensated when the project cannot be completed because of circumstances that are not their fault?” Yabut explained.

One-on-one meetings

The prequalified bidders have 30 to 45 days to submit all their queries to the DPWH.

One-on-one meetings between DPWH and the bidders will be scheduled between November and December, said Yabut.

The DPWH will then “consolidate [the concerns] and come up with an SBB (special bid bulletin) after.” – Rappler.com