DOTC to hire more project consultants

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is seeking consultants to develop transportation and urban growth roadmaps for various areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

The DOTC made the request for expressions of interest in various published media on Friday.

The largest of these was a P37.2-million contract to develop “transport model and urban development” strategies for Eastern, Western and Central Visayas.

It also sought bidders for a P12.7-million contract for a similar project in Bicol and a P12.7-million contract for Northern Mindanao.

The transportation department is shifting more focus to developing infrastructure outside of Metro Manila, a move it was pursuing after savings were freed up due to an increase in railway fares in the capital district.

The DOTC specifically implemented on Jan. 4 an unpopular fare hike structure calling for a base fare of P11 plus P1 per every kilometer for the money-losing Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), LRT Line 2 (LRT-2) and the busy Metro Rail Transit Line 3. The three lines combined serve over a million commuters everyday.

It said that would cut annual light rail system subsidies of P12 billion by P2 billion—money it said would be used for infrastructure and relief projects across the country.

A roadmap for Metro Manila, prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, was already  submitted to the government in 2014.

The P2.6-trillion Jica proposal is mainly comprised of massive railway, road, airport and seaport projects that would solve costly congestion issues in Metro Manila by 2030.

Jica highlighted the high cost associated with traffic, or about P2.4 billion daily.

That figure would balloon to P6 billion per day in 2030 if the government fails to intervene, the agency said.