Megawide may bid for EDSA Busway concession

Megawide Construction Corp. is interested to throw its hat in the ring for the Edsa Busway project of the government, which is seeking a private partner to operate and maintain the transportation system serving Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare. Jason Salvador, head of corporate affairs and government relations at Parañaque

Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), recently told reporters they were studying their proposal for the said privatization project.“If they (government) are serious with that, then maybe we can consider,” he said. PITX is being run by MWM Terminals Inc., a subsidiary of Megawide.

Salvador said they have the expertise to operate and maintain the busway should Megawide be given the contract to run it.

“Having operated PITX for almost four years now, we’ve seen the ins and outs, the challenges, the room for improvement,” he explained.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan, in a recent interview, shared that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines was reviewing potential consultants for the feasibility study on the privatization of the Edsa Busway system. The PPP Center targets to mandate a consultant this month or by March in order to begin the study.A preliminary market-sounding activity, part of the approval process for funding application of the feasibility study, was already conducted by PPP

Center for the Edsa Busway system.Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista recently said they were eyeing to open the bidding of the contract for the privatization of the

Edsa Busway in the first half of this year. The concession agreement includes the operation and maintenance of the bus stations, he said, noting this may also include the construction of additional infrastructure, if needed. Meanwhile, Salvador said they were also hoping to start the construction of a second terminal near PITX this year to address the growing demand for public transportation.

“The plans are being developed. Of course, we have to get the nod of the [Transportation department] being our regulator,” he said.

The PITX official said they wanted to expand routes to the northern part of the country with the new terminal. Among the destinations eyed are Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan and Central Luzon.

—Tyrone Jasper C. Piad INQ

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