NEWS

By Myla Iglesias

Eleven firms have submitted bids for the construction of the P283.8-billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 2 project, a 53-kilometer rail line that will connect to Clark International Airport.

The opening of bids for three contract packages under the PNR Clark Phase 2 Malolos-Clark project commenced with a record high turnout at the headquarters of the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) in Manila on August 27.

Two local companies and nine international firms from Spain, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan submitted bids for the project.

The two local firms are EEI (Philippines) and Megawide Construction Corp. The foreign companies are Acciona, Daelim, Dong Ah Construction,), Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Italian-Thai Development Public Co. Ltd., PT Pembangunan Perumahan, PT Waskita Karya Tbk, PT Wijaya Karya Tbk, and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Corp.

Package 1 of the PNR Clark Phase 2 project covers civil works for 17 kms. including Calumpit and Apalit stations, package 2 is for 16 kms. including San Fernando station and package 3 is for 12 kms. encompassing Angeles and Clark stations.

Junn Magno, PNR general manager, said the record turnout of bidders demonstrates the international infrastructure industry’s support to the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration, as well as their trust in the transparent, fair and corruption-free bidding process jointly implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), PNR and DBM-PS.

“We are very happy with the turnout of bidders for PNR Clark Phase 2. This vibrant participation from international and local companies is proof that they trust this government and the processes we institute. This is indeed a vote of confidence that we are doing things the right way, and soon, our countrymen will reap the benefits through improved mobility and connectivity,” Magno said.

PNR Clark Phase 2, which forms part of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), is a 53-km. rail line from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga. This will feature the country’s first airport express railway service.

Once completed, it will allow commuters to reach Clark airport from Buendia, Makati in just 55 minutes, compared to two hours by private vehicle via expressway. PNR Clark Phase 2 is seen to accommodate 340,000 passengers in its opening year in 2022.

The government is conducting the bid submission and publication this year as part of the massive NSCR project.

The DOTr said bid submissions for package 4 (8 kms. with Clark International Airport station) and package 5 (Clark Depot) are slated on October 14.

Start of bidding for the 304 commuter train cars, 56 airport express train cars and electromechanical systems are scheduled in September through the fourth quarter of 2019.

Meanwhile, the bid submission for PNR Calamba Package 1 (1 km. with Blumentritt station) is on November 5.

NSCR spans 147 kms. and 37 stations, and costs P777.55 billion. The rail network project is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency

These firms have formed joint venture and submitted bids for three package of civil works contract.

For package 1, DOTr said two consortium submitted bids, the Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Corp. and Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Megawide Construction Corp. and Dong Ah Construction.

For package 2, four bidders have submitted bid includes Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, joint venture of Acciona and Daelim, Hyundai Engineering & Construction – Megawide Construction Corp., and Dong Ah Construction and last group Indonesian firms, PT Wijaya Karya Tbk (Wika), PT Waskita Karya Tbk and PT Pembangunan Perumahan.

For package 3, DOTr said three firms have submitted bid, these includes Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited , joint venture of Acciona – Daelim and EEI Philippines and the PT Waskita Karya Tbk.

Source: Malaya.Com