All 5 prequalified groups submitted bids for the single-ticketing system for Manila's Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2 procured via a public private partnership.

Transportation department spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said the groups submitted financial and technical bids for the P1.72-billion (US$39 million) Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) project, which is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2015.

The companies that were prequalified to join the bidding were:

• AF Consortium led by Ayala Corporation and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
• Comworks Consortium
• E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture Inc.
• Megawide - Suyen-Eurolink Consortium
• SM Consortium

Technical bids of the groups will be opened Tuesday, November 19 and will be evaluated within 20 days.

Only the bids of those that pass the post-qualification evaluation will be opened. Groups that fail post-qualification will be given 15 days to file motions for reconsideration.

The Transportation department aims to award the contract in February 2014.

AFCS is envisioned to be like Hong Kong's Octopus Card, which serves as a debit card and a stored-value train ticket. The card can be used for other purposes such as paying toll, electronic banking and even shopping.

MRT runs from Baclaran in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City. It services around 600,000 passengers per day, way above its capacity of 350,000.

On the other hand, LRT line 1, which runs from Baclaran in Pasay to Roosevelt in Quezon City, caters to at least 500,000 passengers daily. LRT line 2, which operates from Recto in Manila to Santolan in Pasig City, carries 350,000 passengers each day.