21 firms eye contracts in new railway segment

CLARK FREEPORT — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday confirmed that it held a prebidding conference for the Malolos City-Clark segment of the North-South Commuter Railway project, which will connect Manila to Clark International Airport.

Held last March 7, the prebid conference covered three civil works contract packages of what is also called the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark, the DOTr said in a statement.

The event was done almost a month after the state agency held a groundbreaking rite for the 38-kilometer Tutuban-Malolos segment last Feb. 15.

The three contracts in PNR Clark cover 44.8 km and five stations up to this US military base turned free port.

At least 21 companies from seven member countries of Asian Development Bank (ADB) and representatives from four embassies attended the prebid that provided a venue for interested bidders to seek clarifications on the bidding documents launched on Jan. 30.

More contracts

The DOTr said ADB would finance the civil works contracts via open competitive bidding.

Two more civil works contracts, also to be funded by ADB, shall be launched by the second quarter of 2019.

The contracts for the electromechanical systems and trains, to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will be launched after that.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan called for trust and support, saying the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was to “deliver a more comfortable life to every Filipino.”

PNR Clark Phase 2 will feature the country’s first airport express railway service, which will bring passengers from Manila to Clark International Airport in less than an hour. —TONETTE OREJAS