The Philippine National Railway has canceled projects including the New PNR Pandacan Railway Bridge, and the design and construction of 13 steel bridges.
Three projects, including the ₱1.8- billion design and construct contract to move rail between Solis and Sucat stations, have been canceled by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) because they are "no longer feasible."
In the notice of cancellation sent by the PNR to prospective bidders on August 17, the other two cancellations involve a scheduled bid opening for the ₱404.3 million New PNR Pandacan Railway Bridge and a ₱733.5 million contract for the design and construction of 13 steel bridges.
The bid materials that the PNR previously disclosed, the Solis-Sucat contract includes pocket tracks, stations, box culverts, and other civil works. The initiatives are a part of the North-South Commuter Railway Extension project from Solis in Manila to Calamba in Laguna.
PNR posted its cancellation letter on its website:
The projects “will no longer redound to the benefit of the government of the Philippines and the same are no longer technically feasible” noted PNR Chair Roberto T. Lastimoso, the Business World reported.
The PNR board cited Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Act, Section 41(c) Rule X of the implementing rules and regulations, which gives the “head of procuring entity… the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding for any justifiable and reasonable ground where the award of the contract will not redound to the benefit of the government of the Philippines.”
The head of procuring entity “may cancel the bidding for procurement projects if the physical and economic conditions have significantly changed to render the project no longer economically, financially, or technically feasible.”
In his first address to Congress, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. highlighted the need to “build upon already existing lines by modernizing these old railway systems.”
“There are dozens of railway projects on the ground, above the ground, below ground, not just in Manila, but in other regions at various stages of implementation, and with a combined cost of ₱1.9 trillion,” he said.
“It is clear in my mind that railways offer great potential as they continue to be the cheapest way of transporting goods and passengers,” he added.
Tags: #PNR, #cancelledprojects