TPLEx Extension project on track, says PPP Center

MANILA  —The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines expects the P23.4-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) Extension project helmed by San Miguel Holdings Corp. to proceed as scheduled even as it undergoes a Swiss challenge.

The PPP Center, in an email interview with the Inquirer, noted the 59.4-kilometer (km) toll road project with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) could deal with challenges during the procurement process, including a tight timeline.

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“The DPWH has gone through several infrastructure procurements and successfully awarded PPP projects, hence, we are confident that they can handle these challenges,” the agency said.

Original proponent

Last month, the National Economic and Development Authority approved the Swiss challenge for the TPLEx project after San Miguel received the original proponent status (OPS).

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A Swiss challenge is being conducted to invite other proposals that can rival the offer by the holder of OPS, which is issued after the implementing agency accepted the proposed project. The OPS holder is then allowed to match counter offers during the process; if no better offer is filed, then the proponent will emerge as the winner.

The project is targeted to be awarded by May this year if there will be challengers. If none, San Miguel will be awarded the contract as early as March.

The winning concessionaire will be given five years to complete the project from signing of the contract. INQ