Proper body OK’d bidding changes, law allows variations

We refer to Conrado R. Banal III’s article (“Under cover regent,” Business, 8/5/13) on the Daang Hari-SLEx Link Road Project.

The BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law allows changes in the bidding documents prior to the submission of bids. During meetings with bidders, concerns on the project’s viability were raised. Amendments were approved by the Neda-ICC (National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee) to improve the project’s viability and to encourage more competition, and these allowed bidders to present designs for the project’s SLEx connectivity.

AC’s technical bid was approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways prior to the opening of the financial bid. Thus, it is unfair to allege that AC “sneaked” a change order and I accepted the same “expeditiously.”

After the project was awarded, the Toll Regulatory Board conducted a study on the Filinvest to Susana Heights section, and concluded that traffic will eventually reach critical level by 2018. Thus, we instructed AC to revise its design to accommodate a provision for a possible fifth lane, which we are currently reviewing.

Kindly note that the BOT Law allows contract variations, and the DPWH will adhere to the requirements of the law in this respect.

—ROGELIO L. SINGSON, secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways