It looks like it will take until 2019 before commuters can use the LRT Line 2 extension instead of later this year as originally targeted.
The LRT Line 2 extension appears to be nearly finished, with all the pillars and viaduct free of barriers and safety nets, but the project is far from complete as it still lacks rails. Stations have yet to be constructed, and electromechanical works will be re-auctioned and awarded only by July.
Based on Transportation department estimates, the LRT Line 2 extension will become operational by January 2019, well past the original target of the third quarter of 2017.
The reason for the delay: contracts that were split, allegedly to favor small-scale bidders.
According to transportation expert Rene Santiago, "the reason for the chop-chop is not economies of scale. It is to give their favorite a reason or chance to get money and make a contract."
Santiago added, "if you chop it into smaller pieces, even your janitor can do it, can get a piece of the pie."
Having only one contract for the LRT Line 2 extension, which is only 4 kilometers long, could have led to completion two years following groundbreaking in 2015.
The Transportation department, however, said it is only following what is stipulated in the law.
Here's how Cesar Chavez, OIC-Undersecretary for rails at DOTr, explained it: Per "Republic Act 9184, for a contractor to qualify, kailangan yung kanyang capability is 50% meron syang, yung single biggest contract nya is 50% of the total project cost. Therefore, kung 10 billion pesos worth yung project, ang contractor merong single biggest contract worth 5 billion pesos. Bihira ang ganyan."
The upside to the delay is the relatively manageable traffic for those using Marcos Highway, a situation more than likely to change once construction of the LRT 2 extension's two stations start.
The LRT Line 2 extension appears to be nearly finished, with all the pillars and viaduct free of barriers and safety nets, but the project is far from complete as it still lacks rails. Stations have yet to be constructed, and electromechanical works will be re-auctioned and awarded only by July.
Based on Transportation department estimates, the LRT Line 2 extension will become operational by January 2019, well past the original target of the third quarter of 2017.
The reason for the delay: contracts that were split, allegedly to favor small-scale bidders.
According to transportation expert Rene Santiago, "the reason for the chop-chop is not economies of scale. It is to give their favorite a reason or chance to get money and make a contract."
Santiago added, "if you chop it into smaller pieces, even your janitor can do it, can get a piece of the pie."
Having only one contract for the LRT Line 2 extension, which is only 4 kilometers long, could have led to completion two years following groundbreaking in 2015.
The Transportation department, however, said it is only following what is stipulated in the law.
Here's how Cesar Chavez, OIC-Undersecretary for rails at DOTr, explained it: Per "Republic Act 9184, for a contractor to qualify, kailangan yung kanyang capability is 50% meron syang, yung single biggest contract nya is 50% of the total project cost. Therefore, kung 10 billion pesos worth yung project, ang contractor merong single biggest contract worth 5 billion pesos. Bihira ang ganyan."
The upside to the delay is the relatively manageable traffic for those using Marcos Highway, a situation more than likely to change once construction of the LRT 2 extension's two stations start.
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