Philippine conglomerates San Miguel and Metro Pacific Investments (MPIC) have submitted bids for a PHP55.5bn ($1.24bn) contract to build and operate the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Of the four groups that bought bid documents for the rebidding of the CALAX, only SMC’s San Miguel and MPIC’s MP CALA Holdings showed up at the DPWH office to submit bids.

Last year’s top bidder Ayala and Aboitiz Equity group and lowest bidder Malaysia’s MTD did not participate in the rebidding, according to abs-cbnnews.com.

"The government is expected to issue notice of award for CALAX to winning bidder by early July."

The DPWH said the opening and evaluation of the technical proposals will be on 22 May instead of 2 June, while the financial proposals will be held on 26 May instead of 15 June.

The government is expected to issue notice of award for CALAX to winning bidder by early July.

The project involves a 35-year contract to finance, design, build and operate a 45.5km, four-lane tolled expressway that will connect the Manila-Cavite toll expressway (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite and the Mamplasan interchange along South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Binan, Laguna.

The project also includes a minimum bid of PHP20.1bn ($451m) for the toll road contract, one of the government’s priority projects under a public-private partnership (PPP) programme.

The toll road will have nine interchanges at Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark and a Toll Barrier before SLEX.

Once completed, the project will decongest traffic in the Cavite and Laguna areas, as well as decrease the travel time to/from Metro Manila to Calabarzon.