The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), Philippines, has invited companies to submit pre-qualification bids to implement the PhP 170.7 billion South Line of the North-South Railway Project on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The winning bidder will design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the 478 km Tutuban-Legazpi long-haul rail service and the 56 km Tutuban-Calamba commuter rail service for a concession period of 34 years (including four years for construction). There are two options to extend the long-haul service – one from Calamba to Batangas City (58 km) and the other one from Legazpi to Matnog (117 km). The last date for the submission of documents is October 15, 2015, and that for the submission of bids is March 28, 2016. The winning bidder will be announced on April 27, 2016.
