17 stations of Manila-Clark Railway announced

(UPDATED) The Department of Transportation says it aims to start the construction of the railway system in the last quarter of 2017 and finish it by 2021
By Chrisee Dela Paz
Published Sun, Jun 25, 2017 10:35 PM

(UPDATED) – Tutuban, Tondo, Caloocan, and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, as well as Meycauayan and Marilao in Bulacan, will be the first 6 stations of a mass transit railway that will connect commuters from Manila to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

This was announced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) a day ahead of a station marking event for the P225-billion Manila-Clark Railway, which will be funded through official development assistance (ODA) from Japan.

The project that will once again connect Central Luzon and Metro Manila by rail "will be completed under the Duterte administration," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement on Sunday, June 25.

Eleven other stations are Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, and Calumpit in Bulacan, plus Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and the proposed New Clark City in Tarlac.

The 106-kilometer railway project is one of the "high-impact projects" of President Rodrigo Duterte under the government's "Build Build Build" infrastructure program.

With this rail project, the DOTr aims to cut the two-hour travel time from Manila to Clark to 55 minutes. (READ: Tugade to formalize Manila-Clark train plan in 90 days)

"The rail system stands to benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations," said the transportation department.

Completed in 2021

Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno said the project is seen to decongest Metro Manila and further spread economic gains.

"This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila," Magno said.

According to the DOTr, the project will start construction in the last quarter of 2017 and will be completed by the last quarter of 2021.

The whole line will have 13 train sets with 8 cars or coaches per train set. Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

In June 2016, Duterte told the media that Chinese diplomats offered to fund and build the project in two years. A year later, the transportation department said the project would be funded through ODA from Japan. – Rappler.com

DoTr lays out first five stations along Clark railway

THE GOVERNMENT will lead today the marking of the stations for its planned P255-billion railway project from Manila to Clark, part of an effort to decongest Metro Manila and develop infrastructure in Central Luzon.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said yesterday that construction will start in the last quarter of 2017 and will be completed by the last quarter of 2021.

Today, the DoTr will mark five stations of the 106 kilometer (km) Manila-Clark Railway Project: Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban in Metro Manila.

“The project... will be completed under the Duterte administration,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, who was previously president of Clark Development Corp., was quoted as saying.

The project will cost P255 billion and will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan.

The entire line will have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set. Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The rail project is expected to cut the two-hour travel time from metro Manila to Clark to just 55 minutes.

The DoTr said the railway line will benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations.

The 12 other stations in the plan are: Solis in Tondo; Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos and Calumpit in Bulacan; and Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, and Clark International Airport in Pampanga; as well as the proposed New Clark City.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn B. Magno said the project is expected to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic gains throughout the country.

“This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila,” Mr. Magno was quoted as saying.

The government has been promoting Clark as an alternative gateway to help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) which has been reporting passenger traffic well above its capacity.

NAIA accounts for nearly 90% of all domestic passengers in the Philippines and more than 80% of all international passengers.

Last week, Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo said unsolicited proposals for various airport projects will have to take a back seat as the government prioritizes development of the Sangley and Clark airports to immediately decongest NAIA.

The government will spend around P600 to P700 million for the Sangley Airport development and it will also start building a new passenger terminal at the Pampanga airport this year, implementing the Aeroports de Paris masterplan prepared for Clark International Airport in 2015.

Business groups have earlier recommended building a “fast train” to connect the two gateways and make it easier for passengers to transfer from one airport to the other and for the proposed Manila-Clark rail to be extended to NAIA, instead of terminating at Tutuban.

The government, which has made infrastructure its priority, has said it will reduce the use of public-private partnership procurement which it says takes too long to implement. Instead, it prefers projects to be funded internally or through ODA or a mixture of these modes.

NAIA, the fifth-largest airport in Southeast Asia, handled 39.5 million passengers in 2016, well over its designed capacity of 30.5 million passengers per year. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin

MPIC readies C5 Expressway bid

NLEx Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is set to submit next month an unsolicited proposal to build a P50-billion elevated expressway along Circumferential Road 5, connecting Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City to Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway or Cavitex.

“We are finalizing the feasibility study. Maybe, we will submit it by July to the Department of Public Works and Highways,” NLEX president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

“Before, it was under TRB [Toll Regulatory Board]. It was an extension of our franchise. Now, it will be unsolicited. But because it will now be unsolicited, we have to refine the study,” he said.

Franco earlier said the company needed to complete first the P8.6-billion NLEx-C5 Link project before undertaking a new elevated expressway along C5 under an unsolicited mode.

The 7.85-kilometer NLEx-C5 Link will start from the end of Segment 8.1 of North Luzon Expressway at Mindanao Ave. and end at Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.

The C5 Link aims to decongest Metro Manila as it would provide alternative access to mainline North Luzon Expressway further east of Metro Manila, bypassing Edsa and Balintawak toll plaza.
http://www.thestandard.com.ph/business/biz-plus/240268/mpic-readies-c5-expressway-bid.html

DOTr to mark 5 stations of Manila-Clark railway project

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will lead Monday (June 26) the Station Marking of five stations of the Manila-Clark Railway Project, the line that will connect Manila to Central Luzon.

The 106-km railway project running from Tutuban, Manila to Clark, Pampanga, is among the high-impact projects of President Rodrigo Duterte under the government’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program.

Five of the 17 stations will be marked in a ceremony:
• Marilao
• Meycauayan
• Valenzuela
• Caloocan
• Tutuban

“This project used to be just something spoken about. But under the Duterte administration, we will make this dream come true,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said, in Filipino. “For the first time, a rail project will connect Manila to Central Luzon and it will be completed under the Duterte administration.”

With this rail project, the 2-hour travel time from Manila to Clark will be cut down to just 55 minutes. The rail system stands to benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations.

Apart from the marked stations, the 12 other stations are: Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport, and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno said the project is seen to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic gains throughout the country.

“This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila,” Magno said.

According to the DOTr, the project will start construction in the last quarter of 2017 and will be completed by the last quarter of 2021.

The project costs P255 billion and will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan. The whole line will have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set. Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour.

Marilao, Meycauayan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Tutuban railway stations to be marked

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will lead Monday, June 26, the marking of the five stations of the Manila-Clark Railway Project, the line that will connect Manila to Central Luzon.

The five of the 17 stations that will be marked in a ceremony include Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban in Metro Manila. The 12 other stations are: Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport, and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.

The 106-km railway project that will run from Tutuban, Manila to Clark, Pampanga is among the high-impact projects of President Rodrigo Duterte under the government’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program.

“Itong malaking proyektong ito, dati ay usap-usapan lang. Ngunit sa administrasyong Duterte, gagawin natin itong katotohanan,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said. “For the first time, a rail project will connect Manila to Central Luzon and it will be completed under the Duterte administration.”

With this rail project, the two-hour travel time from Manila to Clark will be cut down to just 55 minutes. The rail system stands to benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno said the project is seen to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic gains throughout the country.

“This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila,” Magno said.

According to the DOTr, the project will start construction in the last quarter of 2017 and will be completed by the last quarter of 2021 (initial phase).

The project costs PHP 255 billion (105 billion for Tutuban-Malolos, 150 billion for Malolos-Clark) and will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan. The whole line will have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set. Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour.

LRT-MRT common station set for groundbreaking In September

The construction of the common station that will connect the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) will start earlier than expected or exactly one year after the dispute that had stalled the project for seven years due to cost overruns and alleged corruption had been resolved.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government is now gearing up for the groundbreaking of the Common Station project in September, which he had originally moved to August from the December target.

Expected to be operational by April 2019, the common station that will link LRT Line 1 and MRT Lines 3 and 7 is a joint project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPH), Universal LRT Corporation (BVI) Limited of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation (NTDCC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

“I have talked to some people about the common station. It’s supposed to break ground in December. That is what we announced. But after talking to some leaders in government including in Congress, more or less, we already agreed that the common station will be built based in DOTr’s recommendation,” Tugade told Business Bulletin.

“Originally, I want to ground break that in August but they said it’s the ghost month. So we decided to move it to September,” he added.

Ghost month is a Chinese festival celebrated on the seventh month of the lunar calendar or in August. During this time, investors, mostly Chinese, avoid doing major investment decisions.

It was in January this year when the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the common station project has been finally signed after being stalled for many years.

The Common Station project was first brought to the table in 2009. Shortly after that, SMPH forged a R200-million contract with LRTA for the station to be built in front of The Annex at SM City North EDSA.

Four years later, the DOTr, formerly the Department of Transportation and Telecommunications (DOTC), came up with a decision to instead build the station near Ayala Land, Inc.’s Trinoma mall, a decision that was eventually disputed by SMPH.

The dispute led to a Supreme Court order temporarily stopping the development of the project and was eventually shelved.

The Common Station at the TriNoma will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, and the future MRT-7 line. The project will also involve construction of head-to-head platforms for LRT 1 and MRT 3 with a 147.4-meter elevated “walkalator” to MRT 7 on North Avenue.

On November 21, 2013, former President Benigno Aquino III and his Cabinet approved seven infrastructure projects worth more than P100 billion, including the construction of a common station that would link Metro Manila’s two overhead train services near the TriNoma mall in Quezon City.

Approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board were the P62.7-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT 7) project; P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) South Extension Project; and the P1.4-billion LRT Line 1 North Extension Project.

LRT 1 currently runs from Baclaran to Roosevelt in Quezon City, while the MRT 3 runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

Construction of Cavite-Laguna Expressway begins

DPWH breaks ground in Laguna section of CALAX
People living in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna will soon be able to travel with ease. Recently, the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) broke ground on the Laguna section of the upcoming Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar stated that the 18-kilometer CALAX will have eight interchanges and one main toll barrier. When completed, CALAX is expected to cut travel time between CAVITEX and SLEX by 45 minutes.

“The road construction project from Tirona Highway to the end of Greenfield near Mamplasan Exit in Laguna will be closely monitored so that by 2020, our travel time from CAVITEX to SLEX will be reduced to only 45 minutes,” said Villar.

In addition to cutting travel time, Villar also noted that the construction of CALAX will reduce traffic congestion along Governor's Drive, Aguinaldo Highway and the Santa Rosa – Tagaytay Road.

Construction of Cavite-Laguna Expressway begins

The project is part of the 45-kilometer closed system modern tolled expressway that was awarded by the DPWH to MPCALA Holdings, Inc. of the Metro Pacific Group. The investment holding company won the bidding under the government's Public-Private-Parntership Program (PPP).

“Knowing what is at stake with this project that will benefit many generations to come, DPWH will give it all to deliver everything we can and finish the project by 2020,” added Villar.

The CALAX project will require a total investment of PhP 35.425 billion and will be fully funded by MPCALA.

MPIC begins construction of P34.5-B Calax highway

INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) will once again flex its financial muscle to construct a multibillion-peso 45-kilometer superhighway that will link two provinces in the Southern Tagalog region.

During the groundbreaking ceremonies for the P34.5-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), Luigi L. Bautista, who sits as president at MPCala Holdings Inc., said the group has tapped as much as five banks to help finance the project.

A total of P23.6 billion will be sourced from local banks, while the balance will be funded through equity.  “Our financial advisor recommended four or five banks. They will all contribute to the syndicated loan we are closing,” he added in a mix of English and the vernacular. “We should be closing the deal this month.”

Construction works for the first section of the expressway, the 18-km segment in Laguna, started on Monday. Metro Pacific tapped DM Consunji Inc. for the construction of the Laguna portion, while the Cavite segment will be undertaken by Leighton Contractors Philippines Inc.

“We have talked about this Calax project for many years in the previous administration. We’re glad this day has come for us to begin this golden age of infrastructure,” Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Bautista said an estimated 5,000 jobs will be created with the construction of the Calax for three years and throughout its concession period.

Employment will be generated, not only by those who will design, build and operate the facility, but also economic opportunities for those who invest, work, live or commute around the Cavite-Laguna corridor.

“The road network in Cavite and Laguna will be radically transformed—as will transportation, housing and employment opportunities—for people along the expressway and surrounding areas,” Bautista added.

The P34.5-billion facility will start from Cavite Expressway  (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite, and end at the South Luzon Expressway (Slex)-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. The project will involve building a four-lane expressway from these two points through congested residential and industrial areas in Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Dasmariñas and Silang in Cavite, through to Santa Rosa and Biñan in Laguna.

The project will have eight interchanges and one main toll barrier.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2020, while operations and maintenance would be from 2020 to 2050.

“The road-construction project from Tirona Highway to the end of Greenfield near Mamplasan Exit, Laguna, will be closely monitored, so that by 2020, our travel time from Cavitex to Slex will be reduced to only 45 minutes,” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said.

A priority project of the government’s thrust for infrastructure building, Calax will ease travel through the fast-growing areas of Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Dasmariñas and Silang in Cavite, as well as Santa Rosa and Biñan in Laguna, and provide a convenient new corridor for a safe and reliable commute through Southern Tagalog.

Pangilinan said his group will deliver everything required of the company. However, he reminded the government to also do its part.

“Just give us the right of way, and we’ll give you the road. We will finish this before President Duterte’s term ends. All of these projects, we promised to Duterte and his Cabinet way ahead of 2022—that is a promise,” he added. Metro Pacific Tollways is the largest toll road operator in the Philippines. Its portfolio of expressways include the North Luzon, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac, the Manila-Cavite Toll and the future Cebu-Cordova Link Expressways.

PH’s FIRST SUBWAY SYSTEM GETS UNDERWAY

The Metro Manila Subway Project may be an ambitious undertaking, but it is moving forward.

At the seventh Steering Committee Meeting presided by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade last week, partners from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented updates on the Feasibility Study being conducted on the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Among the issues discussed were timelines, alignment, and organizational arrangements. Sec. Tugade reiterated his directive that he wants the project to be operational before the end of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term.

“I don’t want bola-bola. I want this project finished,” Tugade said.

Apart from fast-tracking the project, he also proposed for the subway to extend all the way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"I need to have that connectivity. I have a big problem with NAIA because of the projected increase in volume of passengers," he said.

The subway alignment originally has 13 stations, starting from Mindanao Avenue and ending at FTI Taguig. This is seen to cut travel time from Quezon City to Taguig to just 31 minutes.

Sec. Tugade also proposed a training facility for railway operators to which JICA responded positively. JICA also presented possible organizational arrangements to ensure that the subway will be constructed, operated, and maintained by a competent and dedicated team of certified operators and experts.

Apart from a world-class design, the proposed subway system will have water-stop panels, doors, and high-level entrance for flood prevention, earthquake detection, and a train stop system just like the subways in Tokyo.

At the end of the meeting, a minutes of discussion was signed by Sec. Tugade and JICA.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, representatives from the National Economic Development Authority, and officials of the Embassy of Japan were also present at the signing.

President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to sign a loan agreement for the Mega Manila Subway Project during the latter’s visit to the Philippines in November.

SMC to triple profit by 2020

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) is aiming to triple its net income by 2020, as the diversified conglomerate completes its major tollway projects in the next three years, and finishes making payments for three power plants.

SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said the bulk of its income would come from tollways in the next few years.

“Our 2016 income was basically coming from our beer, food, packaging, and our Petron operations... So I think if we are lucky, by year 2020 and up, our net income should triple by then,” Mr. Ang said during the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Pasig City.

In 2016, the conglomerate’s earnings soared to P52 billion, 80% higher than the P28.99 billion it generated in the previous year.

SMC said it is on track to complete projects such as the highway connecting the South Luzon Expressway to Lucena, Quezon; the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), and the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEx-SLEx) connector road or Skyway Stage 3, as well as the Metro Rail Transit Line 7, by 2019.