MVP, SMC, Ayala groups eye CALA expressway

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Eleven companies, led by the country’s biggest conglomerates, have signified interest to bid for the P35.4-billion expressway project that will link the provinces of Cavite and Laguna.

In a statement on Tuesday, July 30, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said 11 companies have bought pre-qualification documents for the CALA expressway (CALAx) project as of July 26.

These companies include:

• Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. 
• diversified conglomerate San Miquel Corp. 
• Ayala group’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.
• Makati Development Corp.
• Aboitizland Inc. 
• Megawide Engineering Excellence

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

CALAx is the 3rd Department of Public Works and Highways project to be bid out under the flagship PPP infrastructure scheme of the Aquino government.

Valued at P35.42 billion, it is so far the biggest PPP in terms of cost.

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 connecting the South Luzon expressway (SLEx) and the Manila-Cavite tollroad expressway (Cavitex). 

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

It consists of the following 9 interchanges: 

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

“When constructed, the CALAx project will decongest traffic along the Cavite-Laguna road network as it connects the existing Cavitex and SLEx roads, reducing the travel time from Metro Manila to the CALA area and back,” the PPP Center said in its statement.

‘Pure’ PPP

Unlike the other PPP projects of the Aquino government that combines concessional loans from foreign development agencies with private sector, the CALAx project is considered a “pure” PPP project.

The private sector is responsible for all aspects of the project — from financing to construction — for the entire stretch.

The CALAx project was initially a “hybrid” PPP project, just like other infrastructure projects of the Aquino government. The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board approved last Jan. 18 the following hybrid arrangement: the winning bidder would construct only the 28.9 kilometers from Cavitex in Kawit to Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite, while the government would tap official development assistance (ODA) funds to construct the remaining 18.9 kilometers.

The toll road project was originally meant to be rolled out in 2012 and complete by 2017.

The PPP Center said submission of the pre-qualification documents is on Sept. 23, 2013. – Rappler.com