Dutch firm tapped for Metro mass transit project study

The transportation department is moving forward with yet another public private partnership (PPP) project, this time a mass transit system seen to link four cities in the country’s capital district.

PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said in a phone interview that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the PPP Center hired on May 8 the Netherlands-based Rebel Group to prepare a feasibility study for the Manila-Makati-Pasay-Parañaque Mass Transit System.

She said the project, which would also connect the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit system in Metro Manila, could be auctioned off to private sector players by the fourth quarter or early January 2014.

“The Rebel Group will still do the feasibility study. This will look into the viability of connecting MRT3 and LRT1,” Canilao said.

If feasible, the proposal and final structure would need to be approved by Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya, after which it would be presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

“We hope to get Neda Board approval by the third or fourth quarter of the year,” Canilao said, noting that the project was considered among the more “complex” PPP proposals.

The proposed alignment starts in the C5-32nd roadway in Taguig City and will pass through the Makati City central building district, the LRT1 Buendia station going to the CCP Complex and Mall of Asia and end at Edsa corner Ayala Ave.

The previous week, the DOTC also tapped Canada’s CPCS Transcom Ltd. to prepare the feasibility study for the proposed PNR Integrated Luzon Railway project, which was meant to rehabilitate and expand Luzon’s train system.

The Aquino administration, which launched the PPP program in 2010, has rolled out 10 projects thus far with only three of these having been awarded to the private sector.

The 4-kilometer Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link and the school infrastructure (Phase 1) project have been awarded to Ayala Corp. and a consortium between Megawide Corp. and a group led by former MMDA chief Bayani Fernando, respectively.

Last May 6, a unit of San Miguel Corp. bagged the notice of award to undertake the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway Project, which will include a 7.15-km elevated toll road and a 2.2-km road at street level.