P3-B ‘skytrain’ plan OKd

The group of tycoon Andrew Tan has bagged the original proponent status for its unsolicited proposal to build a P3-billion two-kilometer “Skytrain” monorail that would link Fort Bonifacio and MRT Guadalupe in Makati.

The proposed monorail seeks to ease travel time from Fort Bonifacio to MRT Guadalupe Makati and vice versa to five minutes at no cost to the government. This is seen to benefit 60,000 to 100,000 commuters traveling between the two central business districts daily.

Proponent Infracorp Development Inc., a unit of Alliance Global Group Inc., said it would be ready to start the project this year and likely complete it by 2021.

In a statement, Infracorp president Kevin Tan said: “We laud the government’s quick action on the proposal. This is an indication of the government’s commitment and focus on infrastructure developments.”

The proposal was submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Oct. 26, 2017.

“We can start the project before the year ends and this will take us two years to complete it. By early 2021, we can open the Skytrain to the public,” Tan said.

After the DOTr’s endorsement of the project, the proposal will be reviewed by the National Economic Development Authority Board’s Investment Coordination Committee. The project will undergo a price challenge from other parties but the original proponent has the right to match the best rival offer.

Infracorp has proposed to build the Skytrain at no cost to the government but it will have the sole right to operate the monorail. After the concession period, Infracorp has committed to transfer ownership title to the state.
The proposed monorail will use the automated cable-propelled monorail technology. It seeks to make provisions to interconnect with other transport hubs operating within the area.
“We envision to connect Makati to Taguig and vice versa,” Tan said.