PNR Calamba receives ‘record-breaking’ number of bids

MANILA – The Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba project has received a “record number” of 34 bids from six local and 17 international companies to participate in the construction of the 40.5-kilometer rail project.

In a Facebook post, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said the record turnout is proof that the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program “champions a transparent, fair, and efficient bidding process” through a joint implementation by the DOTr, PNR, and the Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service.

“I believe that the impressive turnout of bidders for the PNR Calamba Project’s contract packages is proof of the infrastructure sector’s trust in the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program,” Tugade said.

During the bid submission and opening for various contract packages of the project on July 14 and 15, he said the international companies who offered bids are:

— China Construction First Group Corporation Ltd. (China)

— Chun Wo Construction (Hongkong)

— Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited (Hongkong)

— DL Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. (South Korea)

— Dong-ah Geological Engineering Company Ltd. (South Korea)

— GS Engineering & Construction Corp. (South Korea)

— Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. (South Korea)

— Lotte Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (South Korea)

— POSCO Engineering & Construction (South Korea)

— Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation (South Korea)

— PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk (Indonesia)

— PT PP (Persero) Tbk (Indonesia)

— PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk (Indonesia)

— Gülermak Ağır Sanayi İnşaat ve Taahhüt A.Ş. (Turkey)

— Acciona, S.A. (Spain)

— Italian-Thai Development Public Company Ltd. (Thailand)

— Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Meanwhile, the local companies who submitted bids are:

— D.M. Consunji Inc.

— EEI Corporation

— First Balfour, Inc.

— Megawide Construction Corporation

— Prime Metro BMD Corporation

— Santa Clara International Corporation

He said five more contract packages for the PNR Calamba project are set for opening bids later this year.

The project is part of the “massive” 147-km North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system that stretches from Calamba, Laguna in Luzon’s southern portion all the way north to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

“The NSCR System will have a fleet of 464 train cars or 58 trains sets, including seven Airport Express train sets,” Tugade said.

He said the construction of the NSCR system is supported and financed by the Official Development Assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“It is the single largest project being financed by the ADB in its history, and is the longest commuter railway being financed by JICA,” Tugade said.

To date, he said the northern segment of the NSCR System is in “full swing” and involves 90 km of rail line and 16 stations.