DOTr slams brakes on deal with Unified Grand Central Station contractor

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday announced its plan to terminate the agency’s agreement with the contractor tapped to build the Unified Grand Central Station — a transport hub that would link the LRT1, MRT3, and MRT7 lines.

In a statement, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the DOTr’s legal team is now in the process of finalizing the termination of the contract with the consortium of BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC) “due to excessive delays in the completion of the project.”

Dizon mulled the termination following his inspection of the project, last Monday, noting “unacceptable delay has left the construction progress idle for over a year now.”

“Pinag-aaralan na ng ating legal team ang final termination ng kontrata para maka-move on na tayo at finally matapos na ‘yung proyektong ito,” said the Transportation chief.

“The delay is unacceptable. This project should by now have been completed at napapakinabangan na ng mga tao,” he added.

(Our legal team is studying the final termination of the contract so we can move on and finally complete this project.

The delay is unacceptable. This project should by now have been completed and the public benefiting from it.)

To expedite the construction, Dizon said the DOTr is seeking options under the Government Procurement Act or the Public-Private Partnership Code.

The Transportation chief added the consortium may be slapped with penalties and liquidated damages “for failing to honor the agreement.”

Situated in North Edsa, Quezon City, the Unified Grand Central Station features a 13,700-square meter concourse.

The common station was planned to have an intermodal integrated system below, allowing commuters to depart by buses, jeepneys, or taxi conveniently.

GMA News Online reached out to BF Corp. and FDSC for comment through their available contact details online. The story will be updated once a response has been received from the contractors.

According to Joseph Morong's exclusive report on "24 Oras," the station meant to connect Light Rail Transit-1, Metro Rail Transit-3, and Metro Rail Transit-7 was supposed to have been completed in 2021.  — RF, GMA Integrated News