SCTEX bidders failed

MNTC, Northlink fail in Sctex bid

THE Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and Northlink Toll Management Inc., the two remaining firms that submitted bids for the management of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), have failed to meet the hurdles set by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in the bidding’s terms of reference (TOR).

The BCDA, however, is still not declaring a failure of bidding as it gave the two companies a few days to submit their respective appeals, BCDA vice president Aileen Zosa said.

Northlink, an incorporated joint venture between San Miguel Corp. and Star Tollways Corp., was declared ineligible by the BCDA after it failed to comply with the technical requirements set in the TOR.

Northlink was given up to January 29 to file its protest.

MNTC, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., on the other hand, was declared eligible after the technical phase.

Its financial bid was opened on January 25 in front of representatives from both MNTC and Northlink, members of BCDA’s Asset Disposition Program committee and a representative from the Commission on Audit.

However, the BCDA declared the financial bid of MNTC as “failed/noncomplying,” since it fell short of the minimum requirements as set in the TOR. MNTC still has up to February 1 to make an appeal.

“Both bidders were given a period of time to file their respective request for reconsideration and/or a protest as provided for under the TOR. Thus, the BCDA has not declared a failure of bidding,” Zosa said.

In a statement, the MNTC, the concessionaire and builder of the 93-kilometer North Luzon Expressway, said it is still considering its options.

But Rodrigo Franco, MNTC president and CEO, said having MNTC operate and maintain the SCTEx would facilitate its integration with Nlex, giving motorists greater benefits.

“MNTC will redesign and reconfigure certain toll plazas and the toll- collection systems to achieve full integration of the two expressways. Customers will discover an even more pleasurable and convenient travel experience,” he said.

Six firms originally expressed interest in operating and maintaining the SCTEx by purchasing the TOR, but only MNTC and Northlink proceeded with the bidding.

MNTC rebuilds Subic-Tipo roadway

The rehabilitation of the Subic Freeport Expressway is expected to be finished by August this year.

The Manila North Tollways Corp., which is overseeing the works, said the 8.6-kilometer road “has served its full 10-year design life” but will be restored to its original state as MNTC gives it a new lease on life. MNTC is also the builder and concessionaire of the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway.

With 40 percent of the job already done, MNTC engineers are optimistic they will hit their target completion date on August 15.

The SFEX was constructed from 1995 to 1996 and was completed in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting in Subic. The road was opened to traffic in November 1996 and has not undergone any major pavement repair since then, except for routine maintenance works.

MNTC senior vice president for operations Luigi L. Bautista said because of effective routine maintenance, the roadway has endured the daily traffic pounding on its carriageway. “This is the first time that we are implementing such rehabilitation work,” Bautista said.

The project included the rehabilitation of the “heavily traveled” eastbound lanes. This involved the removal of existing asphalt pavement and, if necessary, the structural base material may also be replaced at pre-determined locations.

“After the rehab of the base material at specific locations, a complete overlay of the entire 8.6-kilometer stretch of the SFEX would be carried out and to complete the repair, new thermoplastic pavement marking would be installed,” Bautista said. Journal online