The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is pulling the plug on the deal with the Unified Grand Central Station consortium, composed of BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC), due to “unacceptable” delays in the Common Station project.

The P2.8-billion infrastructure, designed to connect Light Rail Transit-1, Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-3, and MRT-7, has been stalled for over a year with little to no progress.

Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon said on Thursday that DoTr is finalizing the termination and considering alternative solutions to restart construction, including invoking the Government Procurement Act or the Public-Private Partnership Code to fast-track the process.

He pointed out that the consortium, responsible for completing the project, will be held accountable for failing to meet its obligations, with penalties and liquidated damages likely to be imposed.

Project should have been done

“Our legal team is currently reviewing the final termination of the contract so we can move on and finally complete this project. The delay is unacceptable. This project should by now have been completed and already benefiting the people,” Dizon said.

However, Dizon acknowledged potential concerns about government liabilities for late payments.

“That’s a classic government shortcoming, not paying on time. We’ll check everything. At the end of the day, we’ll balance it all out — the government’s shortcomings, the contractor’s shortcomings — and we’ll come to a solution for all of it,” he said.

Located in North Edsa, Quezon City, the Common Station is essential for the future of Metro Manila’s transportation network.

Once completed, it will allow for seamless transfers between major rail lines and include an integrated intermodal transport system, offering bus, jeepney and taxi services.

The project, initially set for completion in 2020, faced pandemic-related setbacks and was rescheduled several times — yet it remains unfinished.