The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced that it will terminate its contract with the BF Corp. and Foresight Development and Surveying Co. (BFC-FDSC) for the long-delayed Unified Grand Central Station (Common Station) project due to continued and unacceptable delays. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that the project has been stalled for over a year, hindering progress on a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving the commuter experience in Metro Manila.
Dizon emphasized that the situation was no longer tolerable and that the legal team of the DOTr is finalizing the process to formally terminate the contract with the consortium. He stated, “The delay is unacceptable. This project should by now have been completed and people have already benefited from it.”
The Common Station, a pivotal part of the government’s infrastructure buildup program, is located at North Edsa, Quezon City. Once completed, it is designed to seamlessly connect major rail lines including MRT-3, LRT-1, MRT-7, and eventually the Metro Manila Subway. The station’s 13,700-square meter concourse and intermodal transport system, which will enable convenient transfers between buses, jeepneys, and taxis, are key features meant to provide commuters with improved travel efficiency and ease.
In response to the prolonged delay, the DOTr is exploring alternative measures to expedite the construction under the Government Procurement Act or the Public-Private Partnership Code.
Dizon said that BFC-FDSC could face penalties and liquidated damages for failing to meet their contractual obligations. He underscored the importance of the project to the commuting public, adding, “Mas importante kailangan mabilis kasi malaking ginhawa ito sa komyuter natin,” or “It’s very important that this is finished quickly, as it will bring great relief to our commuters.”
This termination marks a significant turning point for the government’s ambitious infrastructure development program, which now faces further challenges in maintaining momentum in critical transport projects.
