Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas today announced that the P60-billion Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1 Cavite Extension Project, approved by the National Economic and Development Authority in March, is now set for bidding next month.
“Sisimulan na natin ang bidding process sa pamamagitan ng pagpa-publish sa mga pahayagan ng invitation to bid para sa proyekto nang sa gayon ay maabot natin ang target completion natin na 2015,” Roxas said.
Roxas said in the weekly DOTC press event that the construction of the tracks, stations, and all its attendant facilities worth about P30 billion would be bid out. The other half of the P60-billion project, which includes the purchase of the coaches, will be borne out by the government through money funded via the Official Development Assistance (ODA), which has lower interest rates over local private financing.
Roxas also ensured the public that the terms of reference (TOR) for the project are clear.
“We want to make sure that the terms of reference is very clear, hindi yung maglalabas ng bara-barang TOR tapos papalitan sa kalagitnaan nitong project,” Roxas said. “We are quite conscious of that; we want predictability, stability, and transparency, kaya mas maigi na yung magkaroon ng one or two weeks delay para masiguro na tama yung TOR.”
Commenting on the recent partnership of conglomerates Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investment Corporation to jointly participate in government infrastructure projects, Roxas said: “Any expression of interest, particularly by people possessing these qualifications, is always welcome. We want companies with huge capitalization, who have a good track record of delivering large infrastructure projects [and] who clearly have access to the [latest] technology, manpower, management, and all the skills necessary to successfully deliver all of these projects.”
Roxas also added that the government wants to avoid or minimize participation of “flippers” or companies that bid low on a contract, then sell it to some other groups without the necessary expertise to implement the project, as this only results to delays.
The Cavite Extension Project will extend the existing 20.7-km LRT-1 system, which runs from Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City to Baclaran in Parañaque, by an additional 11.7 km southward to Bacoor, Cavite.
Eight passenger stations with a provision for two additional stations, one satellite depot, and three intermodal facilities are part of the project. The passenger stations will tentatively be constructed in the following areas:
- Redemptorist Station on Redemptorist Road near Roxas Boulevard
- MIA Station near the Coastal Mall along Roxas Boulevard
- Asia World Station near Asia World Development (Roxas Boulevard)
- Ninoy Aquino Station on the east side of Ninoy Aquino Bridge over the Paranaque River
- Dr. Santos Station, south of Dr. Santos Road
- Las Piñas Station, east of Quirino Avenue and south of Las Piñas River
- Zapote Station, north of the Alabang-Zapote Flyover
- Niyog Station, south of the Niyog Road bypass and Aguinaldo Highway intersection
Two provisional stations in Manuyo Uno in Las Piñas City and Talaba in Cavite are also being proposed.
Once complete, the new line will increase ridership of LRT-1 from 500,000 to 700,000 passengers per day. It will provide a faster and more convenient alternative to residents of Cavite, Las Piñas, and Parañaque.
The construction will be divided into two phases—Phase 1A: from Baclaran to Dr. Santos Avenue, and Phase 1B: from Dr. Santos Avenue to Niyog Station.
“We expect half the work to be completed by late 2014 and the other half by late 2015,” Roxas said.
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