DOTr targets to auction 3 rail, 3 airport PPP projects before end of Marcos's term

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to advance three railway and three airport projects under public-private partnerships (PPPs) before the Marcos administration’s term ends in 2028, a top official said Monday.

For the rail sector, DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said the administration is looking to bid out the operations and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2), and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).

“Advanced stage na po ‘yung ating procurement process on those three projects (The procurement process on those three projects is already in advanced stages),” he said during the EJAP Infrastructure Forum in Makati City.

Earlier, the DOTr said about 74 firms, both foreign and domestic, have expressed interest in the MRT3 O&M contract. The contract is expected to be awarded by July 2027, with the winning bidder set to take over operations by October next year.

Lopez said there are currently no plans to bundle the MRT3 and LRT2 O&M contracts, as they are two different rail lines. The MRT3 runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, while the LRT2 runs from Recto to Antipolo.

According to Lopez, the government is also exploring possible investments from India to finance the planned Mindanao Railway project, as the government continues to process the right-of-way despite having no financing yet.

“What we're doing right now is basically to expedite and to finish what we call the right-of-way. Wala pa hong popondo dito, we're still enticing, in fact, investors, 'yung mga lenders natin, but nonetheless we can focus on the right-of-way acquisition at this point,” he said.

The Mindanao Railway is a 100.2-kilometer line that is planned to have eight stations connecting Tagum City, Davao City, and Digos City. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel time from three hours to an hour.

For the air sector, Lopez said the administration is also looking to advance the unsolicited proposals for the Davao, Siargao, and Bicol airports, all of which are now being processed by the PPP Center. —AOL, GMA News