Daily TribuneThe agency is finalizing the design and evaluating various modes, with a strong preference for a PPP to minimize risks and delays.
An architect’s rendition of the revamped Common Station that will interconnect Metro Rail Transit 3, Light Rail Transit 1 and the proposed MRT 7.
Photograph courtesy of DoTr
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) plans to start the solicited public-private partnership (PPP) process for the P2.8-billion Unified Grand Central Station, also known as the Common Station, within the year.
In an interview with reporters, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency is finalizing the design and evaluating various modes, with a strong preference for a PPP to minimize risks and delays.
The approach aims to expedite the station’s completion, particularly following the government’s decision to terminate its contract with the BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Company (BFC-FDSC) Consortium due to prolonged delays.
Modes reviewed
“We’re still reviewing the available modes. What we really want to explore is the PPP mode. I don’t want a repeat of what happened with the BF contract. Now, we’re carefully studying the options through the rail team,” Dizon said.
While unsolicited proposals may still be submitted, Dizon emphasized that the department’s “default preference is solicited.”
He added that the government is aiming to complete the project by 2027, coinciding with the scheduled start of MRT-7 operations.
Located in North Edsa, Quezon City, the Common Station is essential for the future of Metro Manila’s transportation network. It is meant to link LRT-1, MRT-3 and MRT-7, and has faced setbacks since construction began in 2009.
Once completed, it will allow seamless transfers between major rail lines and include an integrated intermodal transport system with bus, jeepney and taxi services.
