Thursday, January 25, 2007 Malig: MNTC at SCTEX? By Jun A. Malig Cognition
THE parent company of the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) -- the First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPHC) -- wants to operate and maintain the about 94-kilometer long Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, according to news reports. Is this good news or bad news for motorists along the soon-to-be-opened P21 billion to P24 billion road project?
Other expected bidders in the operation and maintenance of the multibillion-peso expressway include Mideast Alliance Resources Corp., SNC Lavalin International, Ausphil Tollways Corp., Pacific Concrete Products Inc., UEM-MARA Philippines Corp., R.D. Policarpio Co. Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Ayala Property Management Corp., STAR Infrastructure Development Corp., J.V. Angeles Construction Corp., and Pietras Builders Inc.
Based on the track records and public works accomplishments of expected bidders, I personally doubt the capability of some of these firms to operate and maintain SCTEx. I have to admit that the MNTC has, so far, proven its competence in operating and maintaining the North Luzon Expensive-way.
Although it took more than 800 days for the Lopez-controlled firm to make good its statement to overlay the Dau NLEx access road with asphalt. And although the calculator it has been using to compute the per-kilometer rate between Dau and Angeles tollgates is defective.
From Balintawak to Bocaue in Bulacan, which is under an "open" system of toll collection, a fixed rate is being collected from motorists. From Marilao, Bulacan to Sta. Ines, Mabalacat, Pampanga, which is under "closed" system, a per-kilometer basis charging is being enforced. According to the MNTC, the rate effective January 1 this year for cars, jeeps and vans is P2 .20 per kilometer.
Ironically, motorists to and from Dau and Angeles tollgates -- a distance of barely two kilometers -- are being charged P16. Computed through a properly working calculator that can be bought from sidewalk vendors, the MNTC's rate between Dau and Angeles tollgates is P8 per kilometer. Such a rate is way too overpriced compared to what is supposed to be only P2.20 per kilometer rate under the firm's "closed" system.
Aside from the MNTC's parent company, there are other expected bidders that have the necessary resources to operate and maintain the multibillion-peso SCTEx.
The Canada-based SNC Lavalin Group, Inc., for instance, has undertaken engineering and construction projects in various parts of the world. The Metro Pacific Investment Corp., a unit of the Hong Kong-based First Pacific Company, is also one of the well-funded firms that have decided to invest in toll roads.
And there's no doubt that the Ayala Property Management Corp. has the necessary resources to do the job. These three large firms have the financial capability to tap companies that have expertise in toll road operation and maintenance, as in the case of MPIC, which enlisted an Israeli firm in its bid for the operation and maintenance of SCTEx.
I guess the MNTC would be too lucky to bag SCTEx. The firm has already been operating the North Luzon Expensive-way and Subic-Tipo Expressway. Perhaps equally or more financially capable firms would do a better job in operating and maintaining SCTEX. Perhaps the SNC Lavalin Group, Inc., the Metro Pacific Investment Corp., or the Ayala Property Management Corp. would use a better calculator than the one being used by the MNTC in computing the per-kilometer distances between the entry/exit points of Nlex.
