MANILA - Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. and San Miguel Corp. were among the 6 companies that expressed interest to manage and operate the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex), according to Victor Zablan, vice president for finance of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Zablan said the 2 firms, along with STAR Tollways Corp., the Citra Group, Amicus Holdings Inc., and IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd., bought bid documents and attended the pre-bid conference for the project last Monday.

The companies have until December 4 to submit proposals and eligibility documents. Opening of the financial bids will be on December 11.

The winning bidder will bear the operational funding requirements for the management, operations and maintenance of the 94-kilometer SCTex, including periodic maintenance works, special/major/emergency works and all other additional works, and insurance for the period of the lease/concession agreement covering 33.5 years from April 28, 2010 to October 30, 2043.

It will provide management services, toll collection, traffic safety and security management, toll road maintenance including greenery and landscaping, and other related services.

Zablan said BCDA will receive a semi-annual lease/concession fee from the winning bidder, amounting to either the peso equivalent of yen-dominated loan debt servicing from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation as well as all financing charges payable to BCDA 10 days prior to its due dates secured by a rolling five-year letter of credit, or 20% of audited gross revenues, whichever is higher.

The BCDA will issue the notice of award on December 22 and the notice to proceed on January 27 next year.

The four-lane SCTex transverses Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac and provides a direct link between Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Clark Freeport Zone and Tarlac City.