PNoy keen on rebidding CALAX project

President Benigno Aquino III said Wednesday that the government may seek fresh bids for the controversial Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project.

"How do we meet the attainment of the goal of getting the best deal for our people? I am inclined to think that a re-bid will be the proper course of action on this particular issue," Aquino told local and foreign media during an open forum.

The President also ruled out the possibility of the government's undertaking the CALAX project on its own.

"There are private sector individuals or companies that are willing to provide us the infrastructure we need and to deliver a premium to us," he said.

CALAX is an eight-interchange tollway that starts at the Cavite Expressway in Kawit and ends at the Mamplasan interchange of South Luzon Expressway in Biñan.

Team Orion, a joint venture of Ayala Corp. and  Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., earlier won the bidding for the public-private partnership (PPP) project.

Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc., a unit of San Miguel Corp., however questioned Malacañang why it was disqualified from the bidding.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said Optimal Infrastructure was disqualified because it "submitted a defective bid security." — BM, GMA News