Alliance Global gears up for more infra ventures

MANILA, Philippines — Infracorp Development Inc., the newly formed infrastructure arm of tycoon Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc., is gearing up for more infrastructure projects as it bids to become a major player in the industry.

After moving a step closer to realizing its maiden venture, the P3-billion two-kilometer Skytrain monorail, Infracorp is also looking to build other projects that would complement its malls, commercial and residential developments, Infracorp president Kevin Tan said.

“Our goal is to enhance connectivity from our various townships and tourism estates, so it can be rails and roads — those that will provide access and connectivity,” he said.

For its first project, Tan said the company is already in talks with potential partners — both foreign and local players — for the operations and maintenance contract of the monorail.

“We’ve gotten some bids already. We should be able to make a decision for the O&M contract in the fourth quarter,” Tan said.

Infracorp may also work with the Ayala Group for the extension of the Skytrain to Bonifacio Global City, possibly on the second or third phase of the project.

“We have to sit down with them. They also have their version of how to extend the Skytrain,” Tan said.

Tan said Infracorp hopes to secure the approval of the Duterte administration in the next few months to be able to commence construction this year.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has already granted Infracorp original proponent status for the Skytrain project.

“By early 2021, we can open the Skytrain to the public,” Tan said.

The infrastructure firm submitted the unsolicited proposal to the government last year.

In its proposal, the company offered to build the Skytrain and transfer its ownership title to the government, with Infracorp having the sole right to operate the Skytrain.

The P3-billion Skytrain monorail project will utilize the automated cable-propelled monorail technology and promises to reduce travel time from Fort Bonifacio to MRT Guadalupe Makati station and vice versa to only five minutes – at no cost to the government.

Furthermore, in its proposal, Infracorp said the project would also make provisions to interconnect with other transport hubs operating within the area where the monorail passes through. It envisions to benefit around 60,000 to 100,000 passengers daily going to and from the bustling business districts of Makati and Taguig.

More importantly, Tan said the project would connect Makati to Taguig and vice versa.

With the DOTr’s endorsement of the project, the proposal would now go through a review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Investment Coordination Committee.

Alliance Global is one of the country’s biggest conglomerates. It created Infracorp last year, marking its entry into infrastructure projects, particularly to participate in the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

The company is also part of the NAIA Consortium that submitted a proposal to rehabilitate and expand the Ninoy Aquino International Airport along with other top business conglomerates.