DOTC wants to include common station in LRT Cavite bidding

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) wants to integrate the proposed “common station” linking Metro Manila’s railways into the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension Project.

DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said they are keen on the proposal of bidders to include the common station linking LRT 1 and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 in the bidding for the P65-billion LRT 1 Cavite Extension Project. “We want to make it part of the bid,” he said.

He said this was also the recommendation of the agency’s Planning Department. He said it would be better if both projects are undertaken by one proponent to avoid any delay.

Groups interested in joining the bidding for the LRT 1 project include the tandem of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and conglomerate Ayala Corporation, DM Consunji Inc., Megawide Construction Corporation, Spanish-owned Globalvia Inversiones SAU, SMC Infra Resources Inc. of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, Eco Rail Services Inc. of businessman Reghis Romero II, and Malaysian-owned MTD Philippines Inc.

The LRT 1 project involves the construction of an 11.7-kilometer southward extension from the Baclaran station in Parañaque City to Bacoor in Cavite.

The common station, eyed to be constructed near Trinoma mall along EDSA, will interconnect LRT 1, which runs from Baclaran to Monumento in Caloocan City; MRT 3, from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City; and San Miguel’s proposed MRT 7, from Caloocan, passing through Lagro and Fairview, Novaliches, Batasan, Diliman and Philcoa and ending at EDSA.

Abaya said DOTC decided to extend the deadline for the submission of bids for the LRT 1 project by another month to May 28, instead of April 28.

This is the second time that the government rolled out the project for bidding. DOTC and the Light Rail Transit Authority declared the first bidding in August last year a failure after only one of 4 prequalified groups participated. The others backed out due to concerns about the viability of the project.

Abaya said integrating the common station in the LRT 1 project would not affect the cost. He said “the government would still spend for [the common station]” and the winning bidder would undertake the construction.

“We are heading towards the common station being part of the LRT 1 bid but… we have yet to finally decide on where [the common station will be built] and the design. They have to present soon because the bidding is just around the corner,” he said. – Rappler.com