THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center is currently reviewing a rail and a flood control project, both unsolicited, an official said on Wednesday.

“For approval, we are currently evaluating two unsolicited proposals, the East West rail project (which is) the light rail project along Quezon Avenue. This is an unsolicited proposal submitted last year,” PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Mia Mary G. Sebastian told reporters on the sidelines of the 3rd Annual Private Equity and Venture Forum in Makati yesterday.

The East-West Rail (EWR) is an elevated 9.4-kilometer line from Diliman, Quezon City to Lerma, Manila. With a total of 11 stations, the project is also designed to interconnect with other rail systems.

The unsolicited proposal for EWR was submitted by the consortium of property firm A Brown Company, Inc. and Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate AlloyMTD, which Megawide Construction Corp. later joined. 

“Another one is the (flood control) project. It’s also an unsolicited proposal currently being evaluated,” Ms. Sebastian said. 

The Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense and Expressway Project by the San Miguel group seeks to mitigate typhoon wave damage in the northern section of Manila Bay as well as improve road access in the area. The expressway segment meanwhile will provide direct access to Bulacan and Pampanga.

The price of the project is pegged at P400 billion, as proposed by the Coastal Development Consortium, led by San Miguel Holdings Corp.

“Once the appraisal has been finished or completed, it will go through the ICC (Investment Coordination Committee)-NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) board process,” Ms. Sebastian said.

Once the NEDA board approves the unsolicited proposals, the government will then launch a Swiss challenge, in which other parties can submit their own versions of the proposal. The original proponent meanwhile has the right to submit a counteroffer. — Arra B. Francia

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