Companies like San Miguel Corp. and Malaysia’s MTD Group said they are interested in the projects and would likely offer bids should the government proceed with a plan to auction the PPP deals over the next two years, or before President Benigno S. Aquino III steps down in 2016.
Apart from the subway system that would link Bonifacio Global City, Makati Central Business District, and the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is also keen on bidding a $6.3-billion "north-south commuter line" that would connect Malolos, Bulacan, to Calamba in Laguna via a 91.37km railway.
Based on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s proposed design, the commuter express will have 27 stations. It will utilize elevated tracks from Malolos to Paco station in Manila. The mass transit line will then go underground from Buendia to FTI stations in Makati and Taguig, and will use elevated tracks again from Bicutan to Sucat stations. The commuter line will use at-grade tracks from Alabang in Muntinlupa to Calamba in Laguna.
"We will join the bids," San Miguel president Ramon S. Ang said. The conglomerate, which has bagged one PPP deal, the Naia Expressway tollroad, could also be open to partnerships given the large investments required for railways, Ang said.
MTD Philippines president Isaac David also noted that the group is interested in new railways and they would likely participate.
Ayala Corp., which has a strategic partnership with Metro Pacific Investment Corp. for rail projects, noted that it is still too early to determine whether they would join. "We will have to assess the projects as they become more developed. The vision is a good one, but a lot will depend on the project viability," Ayala managing director John Eric Francia said.
