THE Philippines Department of Transport has awarded a consortium of China Railway Design Corporation and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision a Peso 3.08bn ($US 61.4m) project management consultancy contract for the first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project. Phase 1 of the 100.2km, Peso 82.9bn project will run from Tagum via Davao to Digos.

The detailed design and construction will be completed within 19 months, while the project management consultancy services will be required for 33 months to cover the pre-construction activities and the defects notification period, Business World reported.

Three Chinese consortiums were invited to submit bids for the project management consultancy services contract: a consortium of China Railway Design Corporation and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision; the China Railway Liuyuan Group; and the CCCC Railway Consultants Group.

The department is still waiting for the shortlist of bidders from China for the design-and-build package.

The first phase of the project, which will run from Davao del Norte province to Davao del Sur province, is being funded through an official development assistance package from the Chinese government. The line will have stations in Carmen, Panabo, Santa Cruz, and three in Davao City including a sub-depot.

Partial operation between Tagum and Carmen is due to begin in March 2022, with the full section due to open in June 2023.

The project was approved by the National Economic Development Authority in June 2017 and was initially due to open in 2020.

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