MPIC Group to further study Trinoma site for common station

MANILA, Philippines - Infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), the single biggest shareholder of the Light Rail Manila Consortium, is set to finalize the design of the proposed P1.4 billion common stations that would connect the Light Rail Transit line 1 along Taft Avenue and the Metro Rail Transit line 3 along EDSA.

MPIC president Jose Ma. K. Lim said the consortium has not yet made a decision on the exact location of the proposed common station and is now studying the design approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) at the Trinoma Mall owned by property giant Ayala Land Inc..

“The design as I understand was submitted and we were forced to swallow the design. Now whether it is the most efficient now or not or whether it is the cheapest or most cost effective one we don’t know at this point,” he said.

Lim pointed out that the group would pursue the most efficient and cost effective alternative because the traffic of LRT1 would be affected if the design of the station would not result in efficient transfer of passengers.

According to him, the consortium has the option to change and is now taking a look at the design and would make the necessary adjustments.

“We have the option to adjust the design to make it more efficient but the government would only take up so much of that cost and it is fixed. Anything above that is ours,” he said.

Instead of shouldering the entire cost of P1.4 billion, the DOTC said that there would be pro-rated sharing of the cost of construction between the government and the winning bidder in case there are enhancements by the winning concessionaire on the proposed common station.

The DOTC approved the pro-rata sharing of 70 percent for government and 30 percent for the winning concessionaire.

“We might choose to make another configuration to make it less risky and not costly. It has to be for the benefit of the LRT and the riding public.  It is not for the benefit of one real estate company,” he said.