DPWH extends pre-bid deadline for Laguna expressway-dike project

Rappler.com

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DPWH extends pre-bid deadline for Laguna expressway-dike project
The P123-billion PPP project is complex, thus the government is willing to give companies more time to bid

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is willing to extend by 60 to 90 days the pre-qualification bids deadline for the P123-billion ($2.74-billion*) Laguna lakeshore expressway-dike project, the biggest public-private partnership (PPP) project under the Aquino administration.

Submission of pre-qualification bid was originally set on October 16. However, the bids submission on July 6, 2015 will no longer be moved.

Currently, 22 foreign and local companies have already purchased bid documents for the Laguna expressway-dike project.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the government is willing to give companies more time to formalize their partnerships since the project involves the construction of a 47-kilometer expressway dike; an initial 700 hectare reclamation component; and the implementation of a flood control system.

Through the project, flooding is expected to be mitigated in the western coastal communities along Laguna Lake, from Bicutan, Taguig in Metro Manila through Calamba to Bay in Laguna.

The project also aims to decongest traffic and provide motorists an alternate route in going to and from Laguna, thus avoiding the existing Calamba-Los Baños route.

The project would also boost tourism in the Southern Tagalog region’s tourist destinations.

“It is a complex project. It is not the usual straight forward reclamation or toll road. So provided we don’t delay the implementation schedule, we are willing to given them more time to pick and choose their consortium members,” Singson said.

Investors, real estate developers, and toll road operations, which need to partner with other companies with expertise in other components of the project, are some of those who bought the bid documents.

“I cannot think of one company, even the big players that could (single-handedly) handle this project. So out of the 22, we would be would be happy if there would be 3 to 4 bidders,” Singson said.

Among the local companies that purchased bid documents were Ayala Land; Filinvest Land; GT Capital Corporation; JG Summit Holdings; LT Group; Metro Pacific Tollways; Megaworld Corporation; and San Miguel Corporation.

Foreign groups that bought bid documents were Australia’s Leighton Contractors; Malaysia’s Alloy MTD-Hashin-Vista Quezon City and Muhibbah Engineering BhD; France’s Egis Projects S.A.; and Indonesia’s PT Star Line.

The Laguna lakeshore expressway-dike project is DPWH’s 4th PPP project. Others include the P34.5-billion ($770 million) Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which awarding has been indefinitely suspended; the P15.5-billion ($345.87 million) NAIA Expressway; and the P1.96-billion ($43.74-million) Daang Hari-SLEX link. – Rappler.com

 

 

 

($1 = P44.80)

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