Monday, October 24, 2016

Gov’t to extend LRT-2 to Pier 4 as public-private partnership project

The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on Monday said it has changed the scope of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) by including a 3.9-kilometer extension from Recto Avenue to Pier 4 in Manila.

“Before, the project scope was only O&M (operations and maintenance). So now, the DOTr (Department of Transportation) is looking at a component to build an extension, so there’s a construction component,” Frances Yani P. Domingo, officer-in-charge of the PPP Center told GMA News Online at the sidelines of the launching of the Development of Foreign Investment Framework Project.

With the project parameters of LRT-2 revised, the original O&M will be infused with private sector efficiencies together with line operations to raise the level of service.

The extension comprises three stations: Tutuban located next to the Cluster Mall, Divisoria at the intersection of Recto Avenue and Asuncion Street, and Pier 4 some 50 meters north of Zaragoza Street.

The current terms call for the private partner to undertake the O&M aspects of the existing LRT Line 2, the 4.14-kilometer East Extension, and any other extensions. The P1.17-billion LRT Line 2 East (Masinag) Extension – which is not a PPP project – involves the design and construction of the Emerald Station in Cainta, Rizal, and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction of Antipolo City.

With the planned amendments, the project may require a separate approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and as result may push back the timeframe, Domingo noted, but did not elaborate.

“The LRT will change scope so it might go back to the approval stage,” she said. Since it encompasses a construction component, the project would require bidders capable of putting up P12.5 billion in capital expenditure (CAPEX), she noted.

Nine companies have signified interest in the project – Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), San Miguel Corp. (SMC), GT Capital Holdings Inc., Marubeni Philippines Corp., D.M Consunji Inc., RATP Development, APT Global Inc., Globalvia, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

However, only four submitted prequalification documents– the consortiums of the Aboitiz Equity Ventures and SMRT Transport Solutions, D.M Consunji Inc. and Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., Light Rail Manila Holdings 2 Inc., and San Miguel Holdings Corp. and Korea Railroad Corp.

According to the PPP Center, 10 other projects are currently under procurement: the LRT Line 6 Project (P65.09 billion); the Regional Prison Facilities (P50.20 billion); the New Centennial Water Source (NCWS)-Kaliwa Dam Project (P18.72 billion); the Road Transport Information Technology Infrastructure Project (P298 million); the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project (P18.99 billion); and the O&M of five regional airports (P108.19 billion). — VDS, GMA News