A concept design of the proposed 3rd Cebu-Mactan Bridge by students and architects of the University of San Carlos in September 2013. But the actual design and construction by Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. will be different. They have yet to release in public photos or sketches of what they want to build.
Mayor to issue notice of award; City Council to deliberate
It’s final – Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) is the only entity endorsed to build the third Cebu-Mactan Bridge.
Metro Pacific was officially declared the original private proponent for the toll bridge project, after no other entities offered to match its terms by December 7, the official deadline.
City Administrator Lucelle Mercado, chairperson of the committee on awards, said a resolution was passed in yesterday’s meeting terminating the competitive challenge stage and recommending to Mayor Michael Rama to sign the Notice of Award.
“We have already recommended to the mayor to sign the Notice of Award. It will then be given to the City Council for a resolution to authorize the mayor. But we can’t expect it to be done this year since there’s only one session left,” she said.
She said they expect the council’s authorization in January or early 2016, after review by the appropriate committee.
The cost of the project, an unsolicited proposal to Cebu City and Cordova town, was estimated at P27.9 billion.
Construction at the earliest would start in 2017 if all permits and clearances are in place.
As designed, the bridge will start at the mouth of the Guadalupe River in Cebu City and end at barangay Pilipog in Cordova town.
Initial studies by the company about the public’s willingness to pay a toll showed that a P55 fee may be charged for passing cars, jeepneys and sports utility vehicles while light trucks and buses would pay twice the amount, and heavy trucks would pay around P165.
MPTDC is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., part of the corporate investments identified with Manuel Pangilinan, and the largest toll road operator of expressways in Luzon.
December 7 was the deadline for a Swiss Challenge for other parties to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to undertake the design, construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of a third Cebu-Mactan bridge.
Lawyer Mary Rose Salvatierra, who heads the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Cebu City’s Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC), said they hope to issue a Notice of Award to MPTDC by Friday, December 11.
“After that, they will still submit a detailed engineering design, process permits and get approval from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB),” she said.
This stage could take six months to one year. This means actual construction for the third bridge may start by 2017 yet.
Aside from permits, the private company has to process the road-right-of-way acquisition for lots needed for the project.
Salvatierra said the committee will submit to the City Council a copy of the city’s Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with MPDTC for the passage of a resolution to authorize Mayor Rama to sign it.
Cebu City Hall will coordinate with the Cordova municipal government for a joint-resolution declaring MPTDC the original private proponent.
Reached for comment, MPTDC legal consultant Aristotle Batuhan said they were not yet notified about these developments of their unsolicited proposal to both Cebu City and Cordova.
“MPTDC will issue a statement only when we are issued a Notice of Award. At this time, we are not aware of developments in the process currently being undertaken by Cebu City and Cordova,” Batuhan said in a text message to CDN.
35 YEARS TO OPERATE
Under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, Metro Pacific will shoulder the construction of the public tollway bridge.
After 35 years, they will turn over ownership and operation to Cebu City and Cordova.
In an earlier presentation, Metro Pacific said a survey was conducted on the willingness to pay of the public, and results showed that a P55 toll fee can be collected from passing cars, jeepneys and sports utility vehicles.
Light trucks and buses would pay twice the amount while multi-axle or heavy trucks will pay around P165.
However, rates for the bridge’s toll fee are still subject to approval from the TRB.
Under the proposal 99, percent of toll revenue wil go to Metro Pacific. One percent will be shared equally by Cebu City and Cordova.
The LGUs’ share decreased from an earlier proposal of five percent after it was found out that Metro Pacific needs to acquire several private lots for the bridge construction.
Road-right-of-way-acquisition will be shouldered by Metro Pacific.
Salvatierra said the city is still coordinating with Metro Pacific to include in the computation of revenues the money to be earned from advertisements posted on the bridge.
This is part of terms under negotiation for the finalization of the Joint-Venture Agreement between the private company and the two LGUs.