A consortium led by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) has submitted its bid for the Phillipine Government’s $1.5bn Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) cavite renovation and expansion project in Manila.
Consisting of MPIC, Macquarie Group and Manila-based corporation Ayala, the Light Rail Manila consortium was the lone bidder for the government’s biggest infrastructure project under the public-private partnership (PPP) programme to date.
According to department of transportation undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, the bid from the consortium will be reviewed to ensure that it meets the bidding rules and a decision is likely to be announced by next month.
"This project has already been delayed once so the government believes that it would be difficult to justify any further delay in the proceedings," Lotilla said.
This is the second time that the much-touted PPP project was bid out; the first bidding held in August 2013 failed as several firms withdrew, citing the project was unattractive, while Light Rail Manila’s offer was considered non-compliant to the bidding rules.
If the offer is approved, the consortium will renovate Manila’s 30-year-old LRT 1, in addition to extend the line by 11.7km from the Baclaran Terminal to the Niyong Station at Bacoor.
Of the total length of the line, 10.5km will be elevated and 1.2km will be at street level.
In addition to expansion of the line, the winning firm will also operate the line for 35 years.
The Light Rail Manila consortium is 55% owned by MPIC group, 35% by Ayala and 10% by Macquarie.
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