This, as the project originally set to be completed years ago, remained stuck in limbo.
New Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon shared that the agency is now planning to formally terminate its contract with Unified Grand Central Station consortium, composed of BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC).
He lamented the current state of the station, which remains unused as the construction stalled for about a year, and described it as “unacceptable.”
“Pinagaaralan na ng ating legal team ang final termination ng kontrata para maka-move on na tayo at finally matapos na yung proyektong ito,” Sec. Dizon sharing that the department’s legal team is now processing documents to end the contract.
Furthermore, the DOTr is also seeking options under the Government Procurement Act or the Public-Private Partnership Code to expedite the construction.
Additionally, Sec. Dizon also warned that the consortium may be slapped with penalties and liquidated damages for failing to honor the agreement.
Regarding the government’s obligations to the contractor, specifically the alleged late payments, Sec. Dizon said, “Classic na pagkukulang ng gobyerno po ‘yan yung hindi pagbabayad on time. Iche-check po natin lahat yan.”
Dizon also promised to balance these factors to come up with a solution: the liability of the government and the contractor.
The Unified Grand Central station, situated near the Trinoma and SM North EDSA malls in Quezon City, would connect the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Metro Rail Transit Lines 3 and 7 (MRT-3 and MRT-7), and the upcoming Metro Manila Subway.
It will also be an intermodal terminal, providing links to buses, jeepneys, and taxis.
The interchange was first planned in the late 2000s, but the ground was only broken in 2017 following issues regarding the naming rights.
Initially, it was to open in 2019, but that was pushed back multiple times. At the moment, the DOTr said that the tentative date for its opening has been set in the year 2028.
As of writing, BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC) have not yet issued their comment regarding the DOTr’s move.