The Department of Transportation said Wednesday it plans to open the bidding for the operations and maintenance contracts of Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway projects in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the bidding for MMSP would likely start in the fourth quarter and until the first quarter of next year. Worth P76.89 billion, the 36-km MMSP includes operations and maintenance of subway trains, stations, depot and other systems infrastructure for a concession period of 15 years of full operations.
Also included are maintenance of facilities and equipment under the Philippine Railway Institute, collection of passenger fares and commercial development rights within prescribed station boundaries, among others.
Bautista said the bidding for the operations and maintenance contract of the North-South Commuter Railway Project would also commence in the fourth quarter until the first quarter of 2024.
The 147-km. NSCR system, worth P204.6 billion, includes O&M of trains, stations, depot and other systems and infrastructure for a 15-year concession of full operations in addition to the partial operations period.
The project includes interoperation management of the rail system with trains from other lines, collection of passenger fares and exercise of commercial development rights within prescribed station boundaries, among others.
The DOTr is also seeking private firms interested in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport PPP project worth P170.6 billion (or 426.5 billion Japanese yen) which aims to address the “longstanding challenges” plaguing the airport, which serves as the country’s “primary international gateway.”
The project, which was designed to increase the airport capacity to at least 62 million passengers yearly, includes rehabilitation of airport terminals and improved operations and maintenance of the airport’s airside and landside facilities.
“The concessionaire’s aeronautical revenues will consist of passenger service charges, landing and takeoff fees, aircraft parking, tacking, and cargo and others,” Bautista said.
“The concessionaire will be allowed to conduct airport-related commercial activities within the project land,” he said.
The bidding process for the NAIA PPP project started Aug. 23, following the publication of instructions to bidders. The issuance of the draft concession agreement is set on Sept. 8, while the pre-bid conference will be on Sept. 22. The bid submission is scheduled on Dec. 27, 2023.
“DOTr will bridge the gap towards our vision for the Philippines’ transportation sector by developing infrastructure and delivering transport services across our four operating sectors in airports and aviation, maritime, railways and roads,” Bautista said.