[ bworldonline.com ]
THE PROPOSED $3.7-billion subway in the country’s financial
district may break ground by the end of 2018, the Makati City government
said.
In a statement on Thursday, Makati City Mayor Abigail S. Binay said
the Swiss challenge for the urban rail system proposed by a consortium
led by IRC Properties, Inc. is set to end by Sept. 24.
The IRC-led consortium was granted original proponent status for the
Makati Mass Transport System, an unsolicited public-private partnership
proposal for a 10-kilometer dual-track subway system connecting the
central business district to other parts of Makati.
IRC earlier said it is partnering with international firms Greenland
Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd., Kwan On
Holdings Ltd., and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. for the Makati
subway project.
Under the Swiss challenge, the project of the original proponent is
allowed to be contested by third party companies, which it then may
match.
“This mass transport system is Makati’s most ambitious PPP project to
date. It’s part of my vision to make Makati the country’s first digital
city — a city that is future-proof, connected and innovative without
losing its cultural heritage and identity,” Ms. Binay was quoted as
saying.
Ms. Binay said the project will not require any cash out from the
city government since Makati will only contribute the land it currently
owns for the subway.
The subway is seen as a solution to easing the traffic in Makati’s
central business district by linking key points in the area such as
Ayala Avenue, Makati City Hall, Poblacion Heritage Site, University of
Makati and Ospital ng Makati, among others. — D.A.Valdez
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