By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, June 9 (PNA) — Three Japanese consortium are eyeing for the rail projects under the state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said on Tuesday.
On the sidelines of Clark Green City pre-bid conference in Taguig City, Casanova told reporters that the BCDA had talks with some big consortiums in Japan to invite them to bid for the rail system project connecting Tutuban in Manila and Clark in Central Luzon.
Casanova joined President Benigno s. Aquino III during the latter’s state visit in Japan last week.
“We had a very good discussion with some consortiums there,” he said.
The government eyes to have two rail projects connecting Central Luzon to Metro Manila.
The first project is the Clark Rail Transit System, an 82-kilometer rail transportation link between Malolos City, Bulacan and Clark which both are in the same region.
Earlier, the government announced that the BCDA will take over the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) North-South Commuter Railway (NCSR) or the rail project stretching from Malolos City, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila.
According to Casanova, the two projects will cost around Php200 billion.
He added that BCDA targets the projects to be under public-private partnership (PPP).
“Normally we want them to form a consortium because it will be a mix of railway, infrastructure and real estate development,” said Casanova. (PNA)