The Philippine Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center announced it has changed the scope of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) PPP project by including a 3.9-kilometer extension from Recto Avenue to Pier 4 in Manila.

With the project parameters of LRT-2 revised, the original O&M will be infused with private sector efficiencies together with line operations to raise the level of service.

The extension comprises three stations: Tutuban located next to the Cluster Mall, Divisoria at the intersection of Recto Avenue and Asuncion Street, and Pier 4 some 50 meters north of Zaragoza Street.

The current terms call for the private partner to undertake the O&M aspects of the existing LRT Line 2, the 4.14-kilometer East Extension, and any other extensions. The PHP1.17 billion (US$24.2 million) LRT Line 2 East (Masinag) Extension – which is not a PPP project – involves the design and construction of the Emerald Station in Cainta, Rizal, and the Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction of Antipolo City.

With the planned amendments, the project may require a separate approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and as result may push back the timeframe.

Nine companies showed interest in the project – Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), San Miguel Corp. (SMC), GT Capital Holdings Inc., Marubeni Philippines Corp., D.M Consunji Inc., RATP Development, APT Global Inc., Globalvia, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

However, only four submitted prequalification documents– the consortia of Aboitiz Equity Ventures and SMRT Transport Solutions, D.M Consunji Inc. and Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., Light Rail Manila Holdings 2 Inc. (a 50-50 partnership formed by AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp. (MPLRC)), San Miguel Holdings Corp. and Korea Railroad Corp.

According to the PPP Center, 10 other projects are currently under procurement: the LRT Line 6 Project (PHp65.09 billion); the Regional Prison Facilities (PHP50.20 billion); the New Centennial Water Source (NCWS)-Kaliwa Dam Project (PHP18.72 billion); the Road Transport Information Technology Infrastructure Project (PHP298 million); the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project (PHP18.99 billion); and the O&M of five regional airports (PHP108.19 billion).