1 month ago
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Elijah Felice Rosales - The Philippine Star
February 4, 2025 | 12:00am
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters the DOTr is close to wrapping up the terms of reference (TOR) for the concession of the busway.
PNA / JESS M. ESCAROS JR.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects some of the country’s biggest companies to take part in the bidding for the operations and maintenance of the EDSA Busway.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters the DOTr is close to wrapping up the terms of reference (TOR) for the concession of the busway.
Once the TOR is finished, the DOTr will sign an agreement with the International Finance Corp. to hire it as a consultant in the conduct of the bidding.
If things go as planned, Bautista said the DOTr would go on a series of roadshows to entice private groups to compete for the EDSA Busway. The bidding will be completed within the year, with the road infrastructure run through a public-private partnership (PPP) by 2026.
Bautista disclosed that multiple companies have already sent him feelers that they would vie for the PPP, although he declined to name them for confidentiality.
“We are still developing the terms of reference, and then we will invite prospective bidders. We will have roadshows, and then we will do the procurement. Although, we have received feelers that they want to join the bidding for the EDSA Busway,” Bautista said.
Infrastructure builder Megawide Construction Corp., for one, is keen on controlling the busway in line with its strategy to build an entire network of mass transport in Mega Manila.
Megawide built and operates the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which serves as the southern end of the loop for buses plying the EDSA Busway.
Further, Megawide had submitted an unsolicited proposal to take over the busway, but the DOTr rejected it in favor of a solicited bidding where it can get more offers. The DOTr prefers to solicit proposals when bidding out contracts for transport projects.
Recently, Megawide signed the contract to build and operate Cavite’s first bus rapid transit, which crosses Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Tanza and Trece Martires. The project, costing P1.87 billion, will also link to Metro Manila via PITX.
Business groups such as the Management Association of the Philippines have asked the government to retain the busway system in EDSA, the busiest road in Metro Manila next to Commonwealth Avenue.
Moreover, they want the EDSA Busway turned over to the private sector to ensure that it always has funding for operations and maintenance.
