PHL extends bid deadlines for P73-B worth of PPP projects

The Philippines has been overwhelmed by over a thousand queries on three private-public partnership projects, forcing the government to extend the bidding deadlines. The queries focused on the P60-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 Extension, the P11.3-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the P1.72-billion Contactless Automatic Fare Collection System, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). “Ensuring that the government receives the most advantageous deals with long-term stability is our priority,” the department noted. “The sheer volume of clarifications and the time needed to adjust their proposals accordingly make the bidders’ requests for extension reasonable,” the DOTC said in its statement. The original deadlines for investors to submit pre-qualification documents were spread between April 5 and April 23. — VS, GMA News