11 firms join Malolos-Clark railway project bidding

SEVEN international and local firms participated in the bidding of the Malolos-Clark railway project, which will connect Clark to Metro Manila.

With the construction of Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos leg) already in full swing, the opening of bids for three contract packages under PNR Clark Phase 2 (Malolos-Clark) commenced with a record high turnout at the headquarters of the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) last Tuesday, August 27.

Package 1 covers civil works for 17 kilometers of PNR Clark Phase 2 including Calumpit and Apalit Stations; Package 2 for 16 kilometers including San Fernando Station; and Package 3 for 12 kilometers encompassing Angeles and Clark Stations.

The largest and fastest project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project, which includes PNR Clark Phase 2.

Participating companies include Acciona (Spain), Daelim (Korea), Dong Ah Construction (Korea), EEI (Philippines), Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Korea), Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (Thailand), Megawide Construction Corporation (Philippines), PT Pembangunan Perumahan [PP] (Indonesia), PT Waskita Karya Tbk (Indonesia), PT Wijaya Karya Tbk [Wika] (Indonesia), and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Corporation (Japan).

Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno said the record turnout of bidders demonstrates the international infrastructure industry's support to the Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte administration.

Magno said it also shows their trust in the transparent, fair, and corruption-free bidding process jointly implemented by the Department of Transportation, 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 is a 53-kilometer rail line from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark, Pampanga.

The project will feature the country's first airport express railway service.

Once completed, the railway span will allow commuters to reach the Clark International Airport from Buendia in Makati in just 55 minutes.

PNR Clark Phase 2 is also seen to accommodate 340,000 passengers in its opening year in 2022.

More contract packages are scheduled for bid submission and publication in the next months for the massive NSCR, which covers 147 kilometers and 37 stations.

The P777.55-billion rail network project is co-financed by the ADB and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Bid submissions for Package 4 (8 kilometers with Clark International Airport Station) and Package 5 (Clark Depot) are slated on October 14.

Start of bidding for 304 Commuter Train Cars, 56 Airport Express Train Cars, and Electromechanical Systems is scheduled in September through the fourth quarter of 2019.

Meanwhile, bid submission for PNR Calamba Package 1 (1 kilometer with Blumentritt Station) is on November 5.