Gov’t reconsidering bidders excluded from rail ‘loop’ line

REPORT FROM BUSINESSWORLD STATE-OWNED Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has reconsidered two disqualified potential bidders for the structural works of the MRT-LRT Loop project. Last week, the LRTA bids and awards committee (BAC) disqualified Leighton Construction Philippines, Inc.-A.M. Oreta Construction Corp. and F.F. Cruz and Co., Inc.-Filipinas Systems, Inc. joint ventures for the bidding of the 2.744-kilometer stretch of Package A or the construction of viaduct and pedestrian overpass. Leighton-Oreta was declared ineligible to join the financial and technical bidding for Package A2 for not submitting the company’s statement of completed projects, while F.F. Cruz-Fil Systems was disqualified because officials could not read the copies of tax documents the group submitted. In a phone interview, LRTA Deputy Administrator Cesar B. Chavez said the agency granted the motion for reconsideraton filed separately by Leighton-Oreta and F.F. Cruz-Fil Systems. This means their qualifications will now be considered. "It was a unanimous decision after a long deliberation," Mr. Chavez said in an interview Thursday, adding that the key argument of the potential bidders was their "substantial compliance" with requirements. Mr. Chavez, who also heads the BAC, said Leighton-Oreta submitted the contracts of the projects they were able to complete instead of furnishing the LRTA with the list of completed projects. "They argued that the contracts are proof of their competence," Mr. Chavez explained. Previously, Mr. Chavez said F.F. Cruz-Fil Systems’ standing would be reconsidered if they can show their original tax returns. Last week, Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp., as well as D.M. Consunji, Inc.-First Balfour, Inc. qualified for the Package A2 auction. The P6.3-billion rail linkage project will connect the Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) Monumento Station in Caloocan to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) North Avenue Station in Quezon City. — Marian Grace S. Ramos/BusinessWorld