3 groups eye CALAX rebid

MANILA, Philippines - Three groups, one led by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and another by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), have expressed interest in the Malacañang-mandated rebidding of the P35.4 billion Cavite - Laguna expressway (Calax).

Rafael Yabut, undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said in a text message that SMC, MPIC, and a private individual representing a group have forwarded their letters of intent (LOI) to join the rebidding for CALAX.

“Three firms already submitted their LOI. These are SMC, MPIC, and a certain private individual representing a group,” he added.

Yabut said the government has decided to adopt a single stage qualification and bidding for the PPP project in accordance with Section 5.7 of Republic Act 6957 as amended by RA 7718 or the Philippine Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Law.

Interested companies have until May 19 to submit their proposal to the DPWH. The floor price for the rebidding is pegged at P20.105 billion.

Malacañang ordered the DPWH to rebid the Calax project after SMC questioned the disqualification of its unit Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. (OIDI) from the bidding in June last year.

The tandem of conglomerate Ayala Corp. and listed Aboitiz Land Inc. through Team Orion emerged as the highest bidder in June last year with P11.66 billion followed by MPIC’s MP CALA Holdings with P11.33 billion, and Malaysian-owned Alloy MTD Philippines with P922 million.

However, SMC filed an appeal before the Office of the President after OIDI was disqualified from the bidding and its financial proposal containing a bid of P20.105 billion was not opened.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved the rebidding of the project during its last meeting.

The PPP project is a four-lane 45.5 kilometer closed-system tolled expressway connecting the Manila – Cavite toll expressway (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite and the Mamplasan interchange along South Luzon expressway in Binan, Laguna.

The toll road would feature eight interchanges: Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa - Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, Technopark, and a toll barrier before SLEX.

The proposed expressway would provide a more convenient and faster route to or from Metro Manila to the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (Calabarzon) region.