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The Department of Transportation is scrapping an agreement with the contractor of the mass railway common station due to “excessive delays”
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The station would have linked major rail lines LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7
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The contractor cited late payments by government as reason for the delay
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is scrapping its agreement with the contractor of the mass railway common station due to “excessive delays”.
The United Grand Central Consortium BF Corporation and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC) was contracted to construct the Unified Grand Central Station, also known as Common Station, which would have linked LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the station and found the project lying idle for more than a year.
He said the department’s legal team is now in the process of terminating the contract.
Speaking in the vernacular, Dizon said it was time to end the contract and that it was time “to move on.”
He said: “The delay is unacceptable. This project should by now have been completed.”
Dizon said the BFC-FDSC may be slapped with penalties and liquidated damages for failing to honor the pact.
The consortium cited late payments by government as reason for the delay. But Dizon said it was “classic” that the government did not always pay on time.
The Common Station is located in North Edsa, Quezon City, with a 13,700-square meter concourse. It is envisioned to have an intermodal integrated system below, allowing commuters to conveniently depart by bus, jeepney, or taxi.
The DOTr is looking at other options for the project under the Government Procurement Act or the Public-Private Partnership Code.
At the end of the day, the Transport chief said he would seek a balance between the shortcomings of both sides in order to find a solution.
The important thing, he said, was to finally complete the project which would help commuters experience seamless transfers among major rail lines, and eventually include the ongoing Metro Manila Subway.
