By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine
Star) | Updated October 27, 2014 - 12:00am
Conglomerate looking at P123-B
Lakeshore dike
MANILA, Philippines - Conglomerate
Ayala Corp. vowed to continue to participate in the bidding for major
infrastructure projects under the government’s public private partnership (PPP)
program amid the impending rebidding for the P35.4-billion Cavite – Laguna
expressway.
“We will continue to participate in
PPP projects, “ Ayala Corp. managing director John Eric Francia said in a text
message.
Francia said the conglomerate through
property giant Ayala Land Inc. is looking at the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore
expressway dike project – the largest PPP project to be rolled out by the
Aquino administration.
The 47-kilometer expressway dike would
facilitate traffic flow and mitigate flooding in the western coastal
communities along Laguna Lake from Bicutan in Taguig City through Calamba to
Los Baños in Laguna. The project also involves the reclamation of about 700
hectares of raw land.
Likewise, he disclosed the company is
also interested in the P24.4-billion Bulacan bulk water supply project of the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) through Manila Water Company
Inc. as well as the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Light Rail Transit
line 2 (LRT-2) through Light Rail Manila Holdings (LRMH).
On the other hand, the Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is bidding out a contract to operate
and maintain the LRT-2 system including the proposed P9.7 billion extension to
Antipolo City and Port Area in Manila.
“Currently we are looking at LRT2
through LRM Holdings, Laguna Lakeshore through Ayala Land as well as Bulacan
Water through Manila Water,” Francia said.
Ayala has a 50-percent stake in Team
Orion with the other 50 percent owned by Aboitiz Land Inc. that submitted the
best bid of P11.659 billion for the Calax project.
However, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) filed
an appeal before the Office of the President questioning the disqualification
of its unit Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. for allegedly failing to
comply with the bid requirement.
Malacañang issued a “stay order” last
June 30 preventing the DPWH from implementing a June 11 resolution that
disqualified the SMC unit. The diversified conglomerate submitted a bid of
P20.1 billion for the project.
Last week, President Aquino said he is
inclined on ordering a rebid for the project.
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