MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investments Corp.(MPIC) said it would have to review the terms for the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 system before submitting a bid, after the chief of the transportation department said it is eyeing a solicited bidding for the project.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade was quoted as saying in news reports that he wants to change the bidding scheme for MRT-3 to a solicited bidding, despite MPIC being awarded an original proponent status (OPS) for the project last year for its unsolicited proposal.
“I will make it solicited. The package will be lock, stock and barrel,” Tugade reportedly said.
MPIC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said he has read about these reports, but they still have not received any official communication from the DOTr.
“There has been no official communications. So we just have to take his word for it. Assuming the press statements attributed to him are correct,” he said.
Asked if the company is planning to submit a solicited bid, Pangilinan said they would still have to review the terms of the project.
“It depends pretty much on the terms, so we have to review,” he said.
MPIC, through a consortium with Ayala Corp., earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal to upgrade and rehabilitate MRT-3.
Under the proposal, the firm would invest about P12 billion to rehabilitate the train system and there would be no increase in fares for at least two years.
MPIC first submitted a $500-million proposal to rehabilitate MRT-3 in 2011.
The proposal was thumbed down, however, as the offer involved hiking fares.
Pangilinan earlier said the company plans to buy out the government’s stake and other shareholders of the MRT-3 system which runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft station in Pasay.