New trains for LRT1 Cavite Extension arrive | 24 Oras

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday unveiled the first batch of new trains for the Light Rail Transit Line 1’s (LRT1) Cavite extension.

During the arrival ceremony, the four new trains were displayed to the public which comprise the first batch of 120 train cars from Spain and Mexico.

“Nineteen years ago, this project was started. So, under the Duterte Administration, we pushed and pushed hard. That is why today, we see the steps of the whole realization of this project--partial operability within this year, by accepting the trains and the cars,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa expressed support for the Duterte administration's programs.

“I served JICA as an Executive Senior Vice President for four years, so I share this same ardent passion with the DOTr leadership. Now that I’m here in this country, I made it my commitment to work closely with our friends from the Philippine government to achieve these infrastructure goals, together with JICA,” Koshikawa said.

Upon completion of the extension project, LRT1 is expected to connect Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite in just 25 minutes from the current travel time of one hour and 10 minutes.—LDF, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/773366/four-new-trains-for-lrt1-cavite-extension-arrive/story/

First batch of new trains unveiled for LRT-1 extension

The Department of Transportation on Tuesday unveiled a new LRT-1 train, which will be used for the railway's extension to Cavite. 

Four new trains arrived, which the operator of the LRT-1 said make up the first batch of the 120 new trains made in Spain and Mexico.

The 120 new trains will form 34 car train sets and can accommodate up to 750,000 passengers daily.

The Light Rail Manila Corp. said rights issues and the pandemic delayed the delivery of the trains from Spain.

More details to follow.

Report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/26/21/first-batch-of-new-trains-unveiled-for-lrt-1-extension

4th-gen trains for LRT-1 Cavite Extension arrive in PH

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz and Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

The first batch of fourth-generation train cars from Spain and Mexico to be used for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension Project arrived in the country on Tuesday, bringing the rail project closer to completion.

In a Facebook post, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the first batch, made up of eight train cars, was the first of a total of 120 train cars for the project.

During the arrival ceremony, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the project began 19 years ago but had “zero percent” of its right-of-way (ROW) certified as “free and clear” by an independent consultant in 2016 despite the ROW acquisition receiving its budget from Congress in 2007.

“Under the Duterte administration, we pushed and pushed hard. That is why today, we see the steps of the whole realization of this project – partial operability within this year, by accepting the trains and the cars,” Tugade said.

The project is a partnership among the DOTr, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Light Rail Transit Authority, the Light Rail Manila Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocariles (CAF), and CMX Consortium.

In the same event, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa pledged to work closely with the Philippine government, citing the December 14 commitment made by Japanese Prime Minister Suga to support President Rodrigo Duterte's “Build, Build, Build” program.

"The strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines has proven that this pandemic is not a stumbling block that could stop us from reaching our destination. Japan is with the Philippines all the way and this unswerving support is very evident in the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program," Koshikawa said in a speech.

He said the fourth-generation train set manufactured by CAF is powered by select Japanese products and technology.

"(I) feel particularly upbeat about this Japan-Philippines-Spain trilateral cooperation. Our project contractor, Mitsubishi Corp., is working double time for the rehabilitation of LRT-1, and CAF’s rolling stock will surely be a vital component," Koshikawa said. "The arrival of the new light rail vehicles for Metro Manila’s LRT Line-1 signals a major uplift to its operations."

Once the project is completed, the LRT-1 will connect Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite, reducing travel time from one hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes.

As of December 31, the project was 51.61-percent complete, with recent construction works, such as bored piling, pier/portal column works, and Manila International Airport station foundation works.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1128585

Maynilad reconfigures water pipelines

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has reconfigured some of its water pipelines, a move that will pave the way for several government infrastructure projects.

In a statement, the company said it has completed the realignment, replacement, and relocation of around 6.7 kilometers of water pipelines to help fast-track the implementation of several government infrastructure projects.

The reconfiguration of these primary and secondary pipelines was done in portions of Caloocan, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Las Piñas to give way for ongoing construction works on new railways, drainage lines, and other vital installations.

These government projects include the construction of the Philippine National Railways North, MRT-7, and LRT-1 Extension.

“It is important to ensure that these vital government projects are not delayed. So we strive to support by accommodating requests to realign some of our existing pipelines, with due consideration to Maynilad customers whose water supply may be temporarily affected by such realignments, as well as to motorists who pass by our construction sites,” Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph T. Estrellado said.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of the customer base.

It is the concessionaire of the MWSS for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (all but portions of San Andres & Sta. Ana), Quezon City (west of San Juan River, West Avenue, EDSA, Congressional, Mindanao Avenue, the northern part starting from the Districts of the Holy Spirit & Batasan Hills), Makati (west of South Super Highway), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in Cavite Province. 

https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/26/maynilad-reconfigures-water-pipelines/

DOTr: PNR Clark rail phase 1 in full swing

CLARK FREEPORT -- The construction of the PNR Clark from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Metro Manila is now in full swing, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

"With 24/7 work construction schedule, the much-awaited PNR Clark Phase 1 (Malolos to Tutuban) segment of the massive North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, is going full steam ahead, as we report an overall progress rate of 42.66 percent as of December 31, 2020," it said.

Amid the current pandemic, the construction works continue at an accelerated pace, under the strictest implementation of health protocols.

The DOTr cited the construction of temporary access roads, temporary bridges, temporary facilities, as well as the bored piling works, structural excavation works, and fabrication of precast segment.

This 38-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 1, is one of three segments of the NSCR Project, the centerpiece transport infrastructure of the "Build Build Build" program of the Duterte administration that will connect Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon under one railway network.

Upon completion, PNR Clark Phase 1 is projected to reduce the travel time from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan from one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes.

It is expected to partially operate by the end of this year upon the arrival of its first set of trains.

The NSCR is seen to significantly improve the connectivity and mobility of our riding public across region propelling the country's mass transportation systems to modern standards.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1883937/Pampanga/Local-News/DOTr-PNR-Clark-rail-phase-1-in-full-swing

Major rail projects to be undertaken this year

Major developments in the railway sector are set to take place this year as the government wants to forge ahead even with just more than a year left in the current administration.

Expanding and making the country’s rail network  more efficient are one of the solutions seen to help ease road traffic congestion being experienced in the metropolis.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade   over the weekend reported a slew of rail projects, which passengers would finally get the chance to experience within the year.

Tugade said the country’s first underground rail system would be partially operable by the end of the year with three initial stations.

Making this possible is the arrival in the country on Feb. 5 of the tunnel boring machines to be used for the P357-billion Metro Manila subway project.

A tunnel boring machine is a critical component in the development of the underground rail system as it will be used to dig underground and lay the tunnels.

The Metro Manila subway project will stretch across 36 kilometers and will have a total of 15 stations, crossing seven local governments, and passing three of Metro Manila’s business districts.

The project aims to reduce travel time from the Valenzuela depot to NAIA Terminal 3 to just 45 minutes from one hour and 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Tugade said the first batch of the fourth generation trains to be used in the LRT-1 system is set to arrive tomorrow.

Partial operability of the project that will extend the LRT-1 to Cavite is also expected by the end of the year.

Light Rail Manila Corp., the private operator of LRT-1, is working with Bouygues Travaux Publics as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor, to speed up the completion of the project, which will cut travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from one hour and 10 minutes to just 25 minutes.

For the MRT-3, Tugade said full rehabilitation of the rail system would be completed by July. The completion is seen restoring the MRT-3 to its original high-grade design.

Two additional stations under the LRT-2 East Extension project, meanwhile, will be operational by April 26, according to the transport chief.

The MRT-7, a P63-billion project that will cut travel time from Manila to Bulacan to about 34 minutes once completed, is also scheduled for partial operations by December, and full operations by next year.

Tugade said Area A of the Unified Grand Central Station, also known as the Common Station, would have its partial operability by July and full operability by December.

Located at the north end of EDSA, the Common Station marks the intersection of four railway lines – LRT-1, MRT-3, MRT-7, and the Metro Manila Subway – which aims to provide a seamless transfer of passengers from one rail line to another.

Tugade said having an efficient rail system would help address traffic congestion in roads.

“It’s a mass transport. Once there is an efficient rail system, you will reduce the number of motor vehicles in the roads. Once the volume is reduced, won’t traffic improve?” he said.

Tugade, however, said the issue of traffic needs a holistic approach that could be addressed through a combination of infrastructure, facilities, process, ways of doing things, and discipline.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/01/25/2072722/major-rail-projects-be-undertaken-year

Most Metro Manila mayors oppose lowering quarantine age restriction

Most mayors in the capital region are against allowing individuals as young as 10 years old outside their homes, Metro Manila Council Chairman Edwin Olivarez said Monday.

The inter-agency task force leading the country’s pandemic response has allowed minors aged 10 to 14 to go out of their homes in areas under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ, the lowest quarantine classification.

Olivarez, mayor of Parañaque City, said the IATF allowed Metro Manila mayors to assess if they will allow the same. The capital region remains under general community quarantine, a level stricter than MGCQ.

"Dun po sa amin pong consensus sa isang meeting po namin, halos lahat po kami ay hindi po sumasang-ayon 'yung relaxing this age bracket," he told ANC's Headstart.

(In a consensus during one of our meetings, almost all of us disagreed with relaxing this age bracket.)

Pediatricians that the council consulted said it is not advisable to allow the lowering of the age bracket. 

He added, he personally thinks children aged 10 should not be allowed in malls, especially with reports of the COVID-19 variant from United Kingdom, which is believed to be more contagious.

"Yung paglabas nang leisure sa mall, tingin ko po, itong meron tayong UK na variant, until now, wala pang vaccine, personally and through the recommendation of our local task force, hindi po dapat payagan 'yung 10 years old, 'yung pag-adjust ng ating age bracket," he said.

(Going leisurely to malls, I think with the UK variant and the absence of vaccine until now, personally and through the recommendation of our local task force, we should not allow 10-year-olds, the adjustment of our age bracket.)

Metro Manila mayors barred the entry of minors in malls during the holiday season, except when accessing essential services, such as medical appointments.

Olivarez said they will be meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the lowering of the age restrictions and if Metro Manila is ready to shift to MGCQ.

He said for that to happen, there must be a steady decline in active cases across the region. In Parañaque, he reported that there were only 131 active COVID-19 cases and they had not had to impose granular lockdowns for months.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/25/21/most-metro-manila-mayors-oppose-lowering-quarantine-age-restriction

21 things you need to know about the EDSA decongestion program

 A few years back while attending the Leaders in Development programme of Harvard Kennedy School, our professor asked us to write one thing which we aspired to achieve in the next ten years. We wrote it in a piece of paper and placed it beside our name card. I thought for a moment and scribbled — “Philippines achieving its full potential.”

In the 1960’s the Philippines had the second highest per capita income in Asia, behind only Japan. A decade later, South Korea had passed our country in per capita income terms largely due to the successful implementation of its Economic Development Plan — where the government and public enterprises accounted for close to 40% of the total domestic investment in the period between 1963 and 1979 for the construction of infrastructure projects like highways, port facilities, and bridges.

Prior to the term of President Rodrigo Duterte, average infrastructure spending for the past five decades was only at 2.5% of the country’s GDP. The 2015 IMF report found that Philippines had a lower public investment in comparison to other members of ASEAN.

We all knew that Build, Build, Build is a program that is not only necessary but is in fact long overdue.

If the Philippines is to achieve its full potential, then it must do something to cut losses due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila, which had gone up to P3.5 billion a day. It was at this point that Secretary Mark Villar presented the plan to decongest the 90-year-old EDSA, a 23.8-km circumferential highway which has long exceeded its maximum capacity of 288,000 vehicles a day.

The plan was not well received at the onset. Few believed it can be done. One critic at one point said, “Ambisiyosa. Nasobrahan ang tama sa utak.” My reply was brief. “Our leaders ought to be more ambitious to what it plans, commits, and do. Filipinos have long deserved this. If we fail, it is our heads on the line.”

Four years after — with the completion of several big-ticket projects in Metro Manila, including the Skyway Stage 3, the NLEX Harbor Link, the Radial Road 10 Spur Link, the Laguna Lake Highway, the promise of returning EDSA back to its 1930 form is within arm’s reach.

Metro Manila is one of the world’s most densely populated cities with over 42,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. EDSA has not been extended since the 1960s and has already exceeded its capacity by about 39%.

The EDSA Decongestion Program is composed of 25 projects, which include 14 expressways spanning 121 kilometers and 11 bridges spanning 9.3 km.

The mainline of the 18-km Skyway Stage 3 has already been opened to the public alongside 10 ramps – Buendia (Northbound On Ramp & Southbound Off Ramp), Osmena-Quirino (Northbound Off Ramp), Plaza Dilao (Southbound On-ramp), Quezon Avenue (Northbound Off ramp & Southbound Off-ramp), Talayan-Quezon Avenue (Northbound On-Ramp and Southbound Off-Ramp), and NLEX (Northbound Off-Ramp & Southbound On-Ramp).

The Skyway Stage 3 was not completed using its original alignment, which was approved in 2014. Due to right of way difficulties, it had to be realigned following the San Juan River alignment. This was approved via a Memorandum of Agreement, which was signed on October 25, 2018. Prior to this, site possession for the entire project was only at 8.64%.

The Memorandum of Agreement signed by San Miguel Corporation included an interconnection structure between Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and the NLEX SLEX Connector. This is the first time in Philippine history that expressways operated by different concessionaires — as in this case, San Miguel Corporation and Metro Pacific — will interconnect.

Ten ramps of Skyway Stage 3 are still being constructed – Quirino (northbound on-ramp), Plaza Dilao (southbound off ramp), United Nations (southbound off-ramp),  Nagtahan (northbound off-ramp, northbound on-ramp), Araneta (northbound on-ramp, southbound off-ramp), and C3 (northbound off-ramp, southbound on-ramp and southbound off-ramp).

The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, a 5.58-km expressway connecting MacArthur Highway and C3 road, will interconnect with the Skyway Stage 3 via the NLEX – SLEX Connector Road, an 8-km expressway connecting the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road in Caloocan to PUP Sta Mesa in Manila.

The NLEX – SLEX Connector is utilizing the Super T Technology which would reduce construction schedule by about one year. The first five – km segment from C3 road to Espana is expected to be completed within the year.

The 2.6-km NLEX Harbor Link C3-Radial Road 10 Spur Link spanning from C3 road in Caloocan to Radial Road 10 in Manila was the first project to be completed following the new COVID-19 protocol. It has effectively reduced travel time from Quezon City to Manila from 2 hours to only 20 minutes.

The extension of Harbor Link Segment 10 to R-10 in Manila was strategic following the completion of the 4.75-km Radial Road 10 expansion, a project which spanned seven presidents due to right of way issues.

The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2 is an 8.35-km 4-lane divided expressway from Segment 8.1 at Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue.

The Alabang-Sucat Skyway Extension will build two additional lanes from Sucat Main Toll Plaza to Susana Heights. The project is now at 47% and will be delivered within the year.

The first segment of the 7.7-km C5-South Link Expressway Project from Merville to C5 or SLEX was completed last July 2019. This will eventually interconnect to Radial Road 1, Sucat Interchange and E. Rodriguez.

The Southeast Metro Manila Expressway is a 32.664-km toll road expressway from Taguig to Batasan Complex in Quezon City. It will reduce travel time from Bicutan to Batasan from 1 hour and 50 minutes to only 26 minutes.

The 6.94-km Laguna Lake Highway is the first toll-free expressway in Metro Manila with segregated bicycle lanes. It effectively reduced travel time from Taytay in Rizal to Bicutan from 1 hour to only 30 minutes.

The Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Field Road (Lawton Avenue) involves the widening of the 3.3-km Nichols Field Road. The project which is already at 60% is expected to be completed in 2021.

The Mindanao Avenue Extension is a 3.2-km highway which will reduce travel time from Quirino Highway to General Luis Avenue from 1 hour and 30 minutes to only 20 minutes.

The widening of the 1.086-km Samar Street was completed last December 2018.

The 680-meter Binondo Intramuros Bridge, which will connect Intramuros and Binondo via a viaduct, will be equipped with pedestrian infrastructure.

The BGC Ortigas Link Bridge which will connect Lawton Avenue in Taguig and Sta. Monica in Pasig will be completed within the year. Soon, travel time from Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Central Business District will only be 12 minutes.

The 506-meter Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will link Estrella Street in Makati and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong within 10 minutes.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/23/21-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-edsa-decongestion-program/

NTF spox: Paglipat ng Metro Manila sa MGCQ simula Pebrero hindi nararapat

 "Hindi nararapat" na ilipat na ang Metro Manila sa mas maluwag na quarantine restrictions pagdating ng Pebrero, ayon sa tagapagsalita ng National Task Force against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Nabanggit ito ilang araw bago inaasahang magbaba ng bagong utos ang gobyerno patungkol sa quarantine restrictions. Ito'y sa gitna rin ng pagdami ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa matapos ang Kapaskuhan, kabilang ang mga kaso ng mas nakahahawang variant ng sakit.

Ayon kay NTF Spokesperson Restituto Padilla, tingin niya na dapat manatili pa ang kasalukuyang quarantine restrictions hanggang sa gumanda ang datos ng mga kaso sa Metro Manila, na episentro ng COVID-19 sa Pilipinas.

"Personally nakikita natin at my end na ang mga datos ay hindi nararapat. So siguro mananatili pa rin ang ating quarantine procedures natin hanggang makita natin na ang datos na ito ay magi-improve," ani Padilla sa Teleradyo nitong Sabado.

Ang MGCQ ang pinakamaluwag sa apat na quarantine restrictions na inilatag ng gobyerno para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.

Sa pinakahuling tala ng Department of Health nitong Biyernes, aabot na sa 218,697 ang naitalang kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila.

Pinakamarami sa national caseload ang Quezon City, na may 41,054 kaso, at ang siyudad ng Maynila, na may 27,536 na kaso. Sumunod dito ang Cavite, Laguna, at Rizal.

Kamakailan ay niluwagan din ang age restrictions sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng modified GCQ para payagang lumabas ang mga batang may edad 10 pataas. Kasabay niyan, hinikayat ng gobyerno ang mga lugar na naka-GCQ na luwagan na rin ang kanilang age restrictions bilang tulong sa ekonomiya.

Dati na ring napansin ng OCTA Research Group na may pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa Metro Manila - bagay na itinuturo sa nagdaang holiday season.

"May mga lugar po kasi na medyo naghihigpit pa. Medyo gumaganda na po kondisyon at gusto nilang payagan dahil hindi naman ganoon kalakihan ang pagkalat ng virus. Nasa kanila pong poder kung papayagan ito," ani Padilla.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/23/21/ntf-spox-paglipat-ng-metro-manila-sa-mgcq-simula-pebrero-hindi-nararapat

Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Section 2B - San Juan River Viaduct - How i...