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. PNR Calamba is projected to generate 10,000 jobs and will commence by next year.
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); and 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; and Santa Clara International Corporation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) 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 PNR Calamba will also connect Metro Manila and Calamba, Laguna, and cut travel time from the current four hours to just one hour. The NSCR System will have a fleet of 464 train cars or 58 trains sets, including seven Airport Express train sets.
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). This is the single largest project being financed by the ADB in its history and is the longest commuter railway being financed by JICA.
(Sources: Philippine News Agency, The Philippine Star)
