P18-B toll road contract up for Swiss challenge

The government wants to award a second elevated “connector” toll road in Metro Manila, originally proposed by the group of Manuel V. Pangilinan, in the third quarter of 2015 after the competitive challenge for the project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board last week.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson told reporters they would prepare the final terms of the Swiss challenge for the P18-billion, 8-kilometer toll road proposed by Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

A Swiss challenge means that other groups will be allowed to bid for the project, which is already behind its construction timetable by a year. Under the Swiss challenge, Metro Pacific will have to right to match any rival offer to bag the project.

The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

Singson told reporters that the new terms would be published soon. The actual Swiss challenge may take place in the second quarter of 2015.

But the awarding of the project may not be done in the second quarter, Singson said, adding that the third quarter would be more likely.

He said the project would move faster should the Department of Public Works and Highways receive no more competing offers once the terms are published.

The awarding the project would pave the way for the start of construction for the toll road, which aims to link Metro Pacific’s North Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway operated by San Miguel Corp. and Indonesia’s Citra Group.

The government wants to speed up the the project undertaking, Singson said, citing delays due to disagreements among government agencies on how the connector road should be implemented.

At one point, he said, the project was being pursued under a joint venture proposal with state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. But the deal was struck down by the Justice Department last year.

As noted, the project reverted to an unsolicited proposal, which would require a Swiss Challenge.

Metro Pacific’s connector road, which is expected to start at C-3 in Caloocan City and end in PUP Sta. Mesa in Manila, was initially submitted as an unsolicited proposal during the previous administration.

Upon completion, it is expected to provide direct access to Manila’s port area while decongesting roads within the capital district.

The proposed roadwork of Metro Pacific is one of two “connector” roads that will serve Metro Manila. San Miguel and Citra last year started work on the 14.8-kilometer Skyway stage 3, which is expected to be completed as early as 2016, the Transportation Department previously announced.