Best bid for the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Project for Metro Manila was out on Monday, Dec. 9. AF Consortium of the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups is one step closer to winning the bid than its competitors---the SM Consortium, and the Comworks and Berjaya Consortium. The project committee will evaluate th
Best bid for the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Project for Metro Manila was out on Monday, Dec. 9. AF Consortium of the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups is one step closer to winning the bid than its competitors---the SM Consortium, and the Comworks and Berjaya Consortium. The project committee will evaluate the financial bids over the next 2 weeks assuming no other bidders will file motion for reconsideration.
The AFCS project is worth PHP$ 1.72Billion (US$ 40.0 Million), and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) should be able to announce final winner in late December, then award the contract by January 2014, according to DOTC Spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal.
The project is driven by the need of replacing the outdated magnetic ticketing systems for both Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 and 2 with the “tap-and-go” smart card technology. The upgrade will increase passenger flow efficiency, and minimizing fraud.
LRT 1 runs from Baclaran station in Pasay City to Roosevelt station in Quezon City, and serves at least half a million passengers daily.
LRT 2, serving 350,000 commuters every day, runs across Metro Manila from Recto station in Manila to Santolan station in Pasig City.
Meanwhile, MRT 3 line runs along EDSA, with stations from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. It carries around 600,000 passengers daily, almost twice its 350,000 capacity.