Bidding for LRT-1 project on January 2013, as scheduled

Despite the prequalification deadline being moved three times, the Transportation and Communications Department said that there was no delay in the whole bidding process for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

 

The proof in the pudding, according to a department news release, is that the bidding for the P60-billion project will push through in January 2013, as originally scheduled.

 

As it is, four companies are qualified to bid for the venture: the Light Rail Manila Consortium (MPIC-Ayala), San Miguel Infra Resources, Inc., DMCI and MTD-Samsung.

 

The DOTC explained that it extended the deadline for the submission of pre-qualification documents three times in order to encourage more participants. It wanted to ensure that the companies or even the consortia to be formed have the required financial, technical, and management capability to carry out the project.

 

“In essence, the project has not been delayed by this encouragement of a few more bidders,” said DOTC Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya

 

Once the bidding process is complete by January next year, the DOTC will award the project to the winning bidder by the second quarter of 2013.

 

According to the DOTC, around 500,000 commuters use the existing LRT Line 1, with endpoints in Roosevelt in the North and Baclaran in the South.

 

Once complete, the new line will increase the line’s span from 20.7 kilometers to 32.4 kilometers, with a new southern endpoint in Niyog, Bacoor. But this endpoint could also possibly be extended up to Dasmarinas City and Imus.

 

The extension will also increase the LRT1’s ridership to 700,000 passengers per day. — DVM, GMA News