MANILA — Seven major transportation projects of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) were given the “green light” by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board which marked the department’s banner projects for year 2013.
According to DoTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the NEDA Board gave the approval for them to start with the projects which include major improvements to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the Light Rail Transit 1 Cavite extension project, the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7, establishment of a common station for the MRT-3, MRT-7, and Light Railways Transit Line 1, setting up of two Integrated Transport Service terminals, and development of the Puerto Princesa International Airport.
On top of these, the DoTC also bid out the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) for the country’s mass rail transport, opened a portion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expresway (TPLEX), Malacanang’s approval of the Metro Manila Skyway project, and the issuance of the “new generation” license plates of the Land Transportation Office.
MCIA project
For the MCIA project, Abaya said it is the Aquino administration’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project bidded out that yielded the most number of qualified bidders, being at seven.
The pre-qualified bidders are the AAA Airport Partners led by the Ayala and Aboitiz companies; the Filinvest-CAI Airport consortium; the Lopez groups’ First Philippine Airports; the GMR Infrastructure and Megawide consortium; the MPIC-JGS Airport consortium led by the companies of Manuel V. Pangilinan and John Gokongwei; SM’s Premier Airport Group; and the San Miguel-Incheon Airport consortium.
The roster of foreign airport operators include ADC & HAS of Houston Airport, Malaysia Airports Berhad, and those from Singapore’s Changi Airport, South Korea’s Incheon Airport, France’s Aeroports de Lyon, Switzerland’s Zurich Airport, India’s Delhi Airports.
Several key improvements to the project’s terms were approved by the NEDA Board, making it more attractive to bidders and encouraging more competitive proposals.
These include extending the concession period from 20 years to 25 years, including the operation of the apron or aircraft parking area in the project scope, and imposing a 25-year ban on the operation of competing airports within the province of Cebu apart from the Bantayan and Camotes Islands.
The MCIA Project will modernize the country’s second-largest aviation hub with the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building (PTB) having an 8-million annual passenger design capacity. It will also renovate the existing PTB, which has been operating at over-capacity with 6.7 million passengers going through the structure in 2012.
The MCIA project costs P 17.5 billion.
LRT 1 Cavite extension project
After sweetening the terms of what was dubbed as the biggest PPP project, the DoTC is now all set for the initial stages of the construction of the P 65-billion LRT 1 Cavite extension (Cavex) project.
The improvements in the terms of the project involve government absorbing the obligation to pay real property taxes (RPT), ensuring the integrity of the facility’s structure for a two (2)-year period, subsidizing unexpected surges in power rates beyond a particular range, permitting a five percent fare increase upon completion of the project, and allowing the submission of negative bids.
The NEDA Board’s approval also entailed an increase in the project cost to P 64.9 billion due to the addition of several components to the project’s terms.
These new components, which the DOTC originally intended to pursue as separate projects, will now form part of the winning concessionaire’s obligations, making the LRT-1 Cavex bid more robust.
These new components include some remedial and rehabilitation works for the existing system such as repairing the carriage viaduct, rehabilitating existing trains especially their roofing, and making the LRT-1 system compliant with laws and regulations.
Installation of equipment which will be part of the common ticketing system called the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), which is being bid out by the DOTC separately, for the Cavite extension portion of LRT-1 only.
Other components such as contingency costs on account of the interface risk with related projects such as the AFCS PPP, the construction of the Common Station which will link LRT-1 with Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Lines 3 and 7 in the EDSA-North Avenue area, and the LRT-1 Cavex components procured under the project’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portion.
The DoTC is targeting to schedule its bid submission deadline within the second quarter of 2014.
In order to foster more competitive bids, the DoTC aims to give roughly four to six months’ time from the start of the bidding process to allow new players to come into the picture. The bidding process begins upon the publication of an invitation to bid.
The 11.7-kilometer LRT Line 1 Cavex will start at the present southern end terminal in Baclaran and will have the following stations: Redemptorist – Parañaque City, Manila International Airport – Parañaque City, Asia World – Parañaque City, Ninoy Aquino – Parañaque City, Dr. Santos – Parañaque City, Manuyo Uno – Las Piñas City, Las Piñas – Las Piñas City, Zapote – Bacoor City, Talaba – Bacoor City, and Niog – Bacoor City.
MRT-7 project
Abaya said the MRT-7 project will have 14 stations running in 24 kilomters of line which will start at the area of North Edsa and will extend up to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan via Commonwealth avenue in Quezon City.
The project costs is still being determined.
The project’s proposed stations will be at North Avenue – (Quezon City), Quezon Memorial Circle- (Quezon City), University Avenue – (Quezon City), Tandang Sora – (Quezon City), Don Antonio – (Quezon City), Batasan – (Quezon City), Manggahan – (Quezon City), Doña Carmen – (Quezon City),Regalado Highway – (Quezon City), Mindanao Avenue – (Quezon City), Quirino – (Quezon City), Sacred Heart – (Quezon City), Tala – (North Caloocan City), and Araneta – (San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan).
Common rail station
To interconnect the MRT 3, MRT 7, and LRT Line 1, Abaya said a common rail station will be built at the North Avenue-Trinoma Mall area. The government earmarked P 1.608 billion for the project which is expected to be completed by first quarter of 2015.
Abaya had said that SM Prime Holdings Inc. will keep the naming rights despite the transfer of the station away from the original site near SM Annex.
He said the company already paid P 200 million to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) for the naming rights of the proposed common station.
LRT Line 1 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 via Edsa. The planned MRT 7, on the other hand, will start at the North avenue area and will extend up to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
Integrated Transport Terminals
The Integrated Transport System (ITS) terminal involves the construction of a common provincial bus terminals in the North and South end points of Metro Manila in a bid to decongest traffic jams in the metropolis.
An ITS terminal is now operational in the southern end of Metro Manila located at Macapagal avenue.
The ITS is an offshoot of Executive Order No. 67, which calls for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the ITS. The ITS will put up a bus terminal north of Metro Manila for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes and two in the south, one near the South Luzon Expressway and another near the Coastal Road/Cavitex for provincial buses with Southern Luzon routes.
The ITS project is meant to reduce traffic congestion in the Metropolis because having common provincial bus terminals will do away with the need for provincial buses to ply the roads of Metro Manila.
Citing figures from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there are a total of 13,067 buses that ply Metro Manila roads daily. Nearly 60 percent of these, or a total of 7,368, are provincial buses.
Additionally, there are 85 provincial bus terminals located in Metro Manila, more than half, or 46, are located along EDSA.
Aside from the reduced volume of vehicles, the ITS will make commuting to the provinces more convenient because these will be linked to other available mass transport systems such as the LRT/MRT and PNR.
Puerto Princesa Airport improvements
This US$ 71.62 million project entails expansion of the airport thru the construction of new passenger terminals facilities, new access road, improvement of its runway, and provisions for navigational aids to accommodate increased domestic and international flights.
The project is also expected to revitalize the transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and boost tourism and economic growth in Puerto Princesa City as a Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD).
In August 2012, the Governments of the Republic of the Philippines and Republic of Korea signed a Loan Agreement to support the implementation of the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project.
Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima signed the Loan Agreement on behalf of the Philippine Government while Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) Chairman and President Yong Hwan Kim signed on behalf of the Republic of Korea.
Under the loan agreement, the Republic of Korea, through KEXIM will provide an ODA loan under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund amounting to US$ 71.612 million to finance the improvement and rehabilitation of the gateway airport of the Province of Palawan.
OTHER MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
The Automatic Fare Collection System — Aside from these major projects, the DoTC also marked 2013 with other major achievements , including the bidding for the P 1.72 billion Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) which will upgrade the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) ticketing scheme to a tap-and-go system. This will substantially lessen queuing time and allow seamless transfers from one rail line to another.
DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said five consortia pre-qualified for the bidding and is expected to award the contract to the winning bidder by February next year. Full implementation is expected on the third quarter of 2015.
The five consortia which were pre-qualified by the transport agency earlier this year are the AF Consortium, led by the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups; the SM Consortium, which includes several companies owned by the Sy family; a group led by ComWorks, Inc.; the E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture, Inc.; and the Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium.
The pre-qualified groups have also partnered with foreign companies having established experience in similar ticketing systems, such as those in the technology, banking, transportation, and retail industries.
The AFCS project is part of the DOTC’s thrust to modernize the country’s transportation systems for more convenient, reliable and efficient services.
The winning consortium will also have the option to expand this “contactless” card system to other businesses in and out of the transportation sector, such as in retail transactions.
Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) – The first phase of the 88.85-kilometer four-lane expressway opened in time for the influx of motorists going up north during the commemoration of this year’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
Abaya said the soft opening of the 17-kilometer stretch provided faster, safer, and more convenient travel to the northern provinces.
The first phase of TPLEX runs from La Paz in Tarlac City, then to Victoria, and finally to Gerona in the Province of Tarlac. It is expected to cut travel time by as much as 40 minutes to and from Baguio City.
The next phases for development are a section up to Rosario, Pangasinan which is expected to be completed by mid-2014, followed by another stretch to Rosario, La Union, which is targeted for completion by 2016.
The TPLEX is jointly supervised by the DPWH, which oversees the expressway’s civil works requirements, and the DOTC-Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), which oversees the proper operations of the expressway with emphasis on motorist safety and convenience. Abaya sits as the Chairman of the TRB.
Among the DOTC-TRB’s safety and convenience measures are the deployment of sufficient traffic management personnel and equipment, enforcement of road rules and regulations, and the provision of security and emergency assistance such as 24/7 repair and towing services, firetruck availability, and emergency medical services.
DOTC-TRB also implements safety standards for lighting, fencing, and installing signs, guardrails, and visible lane markings, among others.
Motorist safety and convenience have also been enhanced by the DOTC-TRB’s suggestion to add 1 lane per direction, upgrading the TPLEX to a 4-lane divided expressway instead of the original 2-lane undivided expressway design. This 4-lane design includes a center median which separates traffic in opposing directions, making travel safer and faster for the public.
Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) – President Benigno Aquino III approved the contract for the Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) Stage 3 Project which will connect the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway.
The project will be fully funded by the Citra Central Expressway Corporation at an estimated cost of P 26.5 billion and will be overseen by the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
According to Abaya, this new road is expected to help decongest EDSA and other major roads such as Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Nagtahan, and Quirino and greatly reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from the usual two hours or more to just 15 minutes.
In a 2013 report released by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it estimated that around P 2.4 billion worth of economic and opportunity loss is incurred daily due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
The flood free, mostly elevated six-lane expressway, has an approximate length of 14.2 kilometers and will help reduce pollution, provide greater comfort and safety to the motorists and result to large savings in travel time, fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. It will also provide around 6,000 direct jobs and an additional indirect jobs of around 10,000 during construction.
The project is estimated to be completed in three years as preparatory and advance works will commence before the end of this year. Round the clock construction works is expected by early 2nd quarter next year 2014.
Abaya said the first section of the roadway from Buendia to Nagtahan may be opened for service by early 2016.
“DOTC along with DPWH, MMDA and local governments of Makati, Manila and Quezon City will surely coordinate and do its best to minimize traffic inconvenience throughout the route of the project.” Abaya said.
He added: “Our President is committed to build infrastructure that will ease the worsening traffic congestion and to enhance economic opportunities. This Skyway project will surely do both. Other projects such as the construction of the Tarlac to La Union expressway (TPLEX) and the widening and improvement of the Batangas expressway (STAR) are on-going.”
“New generation” LTO plates – The Land Transportation Office, an attached agency of the DoTC, will soon come out with the “new generation” vehicle license plates which contains several advanced security features and a new alphanumeric design.
The new plates were supposed to be out last September but the LTO said it will be released anytime early next year after some technical glitches have been ironed out.
The new motor vehicle plates will now have a three-letter, four-number combination, and the motorcycle plates will have a two-letter, five-number combination. The private vehicle plates will also come in a black-and-white design, with a look similar to those in more advanced countries such as Singapore and parts of Europe.
The latest technologies adopted as multiple security features include: — Laser-etched bar codes containing selective data inputs which will allow data verification with the LTO.– Reflective sheeting material, which will allow license plate visibility even from wide-entrance angles and up to a distance of 100 feet, for both daytime and nighttime. This will have security images which cannot be removed by any known method without damaging the sheeting.– Anodized bolt head screws and nuts with serial numbers, which will prevent tampering and removal of the license plates from the vehicle bodies once installed.
“The new security features will promote safety and reliability in accordance with international quality standards. They will prevent the tampering, theft, and falsification of license plates, mitigating carnapping, colorum, and smuggling practices,” said DoTC spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal.
Lifting of air ban for Philippine air carriers – Last July 10, the European Commission lifted the ban on Philippine carriers from operating new flights to Europe after it was observed that the country is up to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
That means that the EU can now rely on the judgment of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in connection with the safety standards implemented by airlines used by EU citizens within the country.
As a result, Philippine Airlines launched its re-introductory flight to London on Nov. 6.
All Philippine air carriers were banned from the EU in March 2010 following very poor results from an ICAO audit in 2009 which led to a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) being issued by ICAO.
A follow-up audit by ICAO in October 2012 showed some improvements had been made. However, the SSC was not removed and another added. A further audit in February 2013 found sufficient progress had been made to lift both the SSCs.
The Commission conducted an on-site visit between June 3 and 7, 2013 to verify the situation and to provide information for the Air Safety Committee (ASC) to aid the deliberations on any potential lifting of the current restrictions.
Opening of Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental – On June 13, 2013, President Benigno Aquino III inaugurated the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental. It formally opened to flights two day later.
The P 7.85-million airport is the main airport and the largest one that serves the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, aside from Misamis Oriental and Davao City and the rest of Northern Mindanao province.
This is the first international airport in the region.
The airport sits on a 4.17 square kilometer site in Barangay Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and is located 46 kilometers away from the city center of Cagayan de Oro. It replaced Lumbia Airport in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro.
MRT, LRT fare hike public consultation – The DoTC recently held a public consultation regarding the proposed fare adjustments in the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transits.
The public hearing was held at the LRT Line 2 depot in Santolan, Pasig City which was attened by cause-oriented groups and stakeholders.
Under the proposal, the rail management willl impose an “11 + 1” fare increase, which means that a passenger will be charged with P 11 base fare plus P 1 for every kilometer of travel.
The decision whether to impose a fare hike will be known early next year.
Authorities said a fare hike is necessary so as to cut government subsidy on the fare. In the MRT, an end-to-end trip costs P 15 when it should be P 45.
Completion of NAIA Terminal 3 by third quarter of 2014 – The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 will be fully operational by the third quarter of next year, says DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
This was after the DoTC sealed an agreement with Takenaka Corporation of Japan for it to complete and integrate the system works at the airport
Under the terms of the agreement, Takenaka, the original subcontractor, will complete the works within 12 months, allowing Terminal 3 to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2014. These works include baggage handling, flight information displays, computer terminals, gate coordination, and fire protection systems, among others.
With this agreement in place, the DOTC commits to having Terminal 3 fully operational by August 2014.The full operation of Terminal 3 will allow a faster and more pleasant experience for passengers flying in and out of Manila. This will also boost the administration’s tourism efforts and make air travel more convenient and efficient, by doubling Terminal 3’s annual capacity to 13 million domestic and international passengers.
The rehabilitation and completion of works on Terminal 3 coincides with other DOTC projects that will further enhance the quality and safety of Philippine aviation.
These include the adoption of a world-class aviation system known as the CNS/ATM (Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management) System, which is now being implemented and will be fully operational by November 2015.
Other improvement projects for various airports across the country are the P 434.5-million Upgrading of Night Landing Operations Project and the P 258.9-Million Installation/Upgrading of Airfield Lighting Systems and Upgrading of Power Supply Systems Project, both of which are currently being bid out by the transport agency.
DoTC’s downsides
With all these major achievements, the DoTC was not spared from controversies as what supposedly happened in the project to improve the Metro Rail Transit 3.
According to news reports, MRT General Manager AL Vitangcol reportedly tried to extort US$ 30 million from Inekon Group in exchange for the contract to supply additional train coaches.
Vitangcol denied the allegations as he went on leave soon after news on the alleged extortion came out in a major daily. He, however, is presently back to his post.
DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya ordered for an investigation n the matter. The final report has yet to be issued by the DoTC.
Also, the DoTC has not made public yet its findings on the sea tragedy involving M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and M/V Sulpicio Express Siete in Laiws Ledge, Talisay, Cebu. The incident happened last August but the DoTC has not yet issued any formal results on the investigation.
OTHER PROJECTS AWARDED
The DoTc has also awarded an array infrastructure projects for the year. As of Dec. 5, the department has awarded the following projects:
– Lubang Airport with contract amount of P 14,622,140.35 awarded to SM Castro Management and Construction Services– Bansud Port for P 3,826,136,35 given to King’s Builders and Development Corporation –Pio Duran Port for P 4,239,951.75 awarded to E. Garcia Construction Corporation–Kaputian Multi-Purpose Port at P 2,942,808.08 awarded to L.N.R Construction–Guigaquit Port cntract price of P 4,942,822.18 to Verzontal Builders– DOTC-MRT III Security Services P 106,880,280.00 to KAIZEN Security Agency– Malimono Port for P 4,716,796.30 to Geed Construction– Cotabato Airport for P 55,694,631.88 to Vincent T. Lao Construction — Cagayan De Oro LTFRB Regional Office for Php1,855,973.60 to Adimre Construction — Bicol International Airport for P 708,000,208.20 to Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation — Supply And Delivery of Motor Vehicle License Plates For The Land Transportation Office Motor Vehicle License Plate Standardization Program for P 1,989,846,200 to JKG and Powerplates Joint Venture– Naga Airport P 6,422,260.50 to E. Garcia Construction Corporation– Tangub City LTO District Office Php4,999,888.00 Php4,989,169.96 YSL Builders– Sabang Port for P 11,896,249.30 to E. Garcia Construction Corporation –Cagban Jetty Port for P 23,500,000.00 to International Builders Corporation– Santa Fe Port for P 17,537,313.94 to Square Cube Construction– Northern Palawan Airport for P 45,852,280.84 to BCT Trading and Construction– Marinduque Airport for P 19,929,147.30 to G.A. Flores Construction — Siargao Airport for P 23,565,822.85 to International Builders Corporation– Security Service Provider For The DOTC-Central Office for P 9,669,609.84 to Prime Security Agency– Consulting Services For The Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study Update And Capacity Enhancement Project for P 33,988,858.00 to Woodfields Consultants, Inc.– Maasin Airport for P 57,589,035.00 to Montano Construction and Development Corporation– Mercedes Port for P 7,158,340.61 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Preparatory Works For New Bohol (Panglao) Airport for P 49,358,000.00 to Square Cube Construction — Supply And Delivery of Magnetic Tickets For DOTC-MRT3 P 25,000,000.00 to Banner Pasticard, Inc.– Personal Computers with Peripherals and LGU Technology Solutions and Applications Software P 140,503,776.00 to LDLA — Procurement of DOTC-MRT3 Maintenance Provider for P 658,041,298.95 to APT-Global Inc.– Pilar Port for P 12,182,300.16 to L.N.R. Construction — Tacloban Airport for Php 13,670,382.71 to Jo Builders– Procurement of Computers, Peripherals and Educational Software for P 9,550,000.00 Advance Solutions, Inc.– Catarman Airport for Php7,520,088.88 to Vesa Engineering — Dipolog Airport for Php 26,695,751.89 to Vincent T. Lao Construction — Puerto Prinsesa Airport for Php 21,495,653.43 to DG Sarmenta Construction– Zamboanga Airport for Php 5,738,808.80 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Consulting/Engineering Services for Bicol (DARAGA) International Airport Development Project for Php 110,808,400.00 to Schema Pertconsult, DCCD, PTCC Joint Venture — Consulting Services for the Revision of the Suite of Oracle Financial Systems Resulting From the Revised Chart of Accounts for the National Government Agencies Effective 01 January 2014 for Php 7,957,600.00 to Active Business Solutions, Inc.– DOTC-MRT3 Janitorial Services for Php 66,918,001.92 to Excellent Building Care and General Servies, Inc.– Lease of Photocopying Machines for the DOTC-CENTRAL Office for Php 1,682,640.00 to Otus Copy Systems, Inc.– Kalibo Airport for Php 24,550,000 to International Builders Corporation– San Jose Airport for Php 88,404,026 to Equi Parco Construction — KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 4 for Php 9,633,305.46 to B2K– KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 6 for Php 7,957,426.86 to Honeyville Construction — Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of One Lot of Personnel and Baggage Screening Equipment for Php 225,887,999.46 to DPSPI– KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 1 for Php 11,878,669.44 to Aquino Dela Cruz Engineering and Construction — Azagra Feeder Port for Php 13,216,634.81 to R.C. Tagala Construction– Alcantara Port for Php 4,482,388.67 to R.C. Tagala Construction– Guimbal Port for Php 1,988,288.28 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Lubang Port for Php 4,088,918.08 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Polambato Access Road for Php 27,874,549.17 to Werr Construction– Pandan Port for Php 4,788,798.41 to T.M. Abad Construction– San Vicente Port for Php 17,588,808.07 to D.K. Jocson Construction — Ormoc Airport for Php 52,242,270.92 to MAC Builders (PNA)
According to DoTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, the NEDA Board gave the approval for them to start with the projects which include major improvements to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the Light Rail Transit 1 Cavite extension project, the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7, establishment of a common station for the MRT-3, MRT-7, and Light Railways Transit Line 1, setting up of two Integrated Transport Service terminals, and development of the Puerto Princesa International Airport.
On top of these, the DoTC also bid out the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) for the country’s mass rail transport, opened a portion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expresway (TPLEX), Malacanang’s approval of the Metro Manila Skyway project, and the issuance of the “new generation” license plates of the Land Transportation Office.
MCIA project
For the MCIA project, Abaya said it is the Aquino administration’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project bidded out that yielded the most number of qualified bidders, being at seven.
The pre-qualified bidders are the AAA Airport Partners led by the Ayala and Aboitiz companies; the Filinvest-CAI Airport consortium; the Lopez groups’ First Philippine Airports; the GMR Infrastructure and Megawide consortium; the MPIC-JGS Airport consortium led by the companies of Manuel V. Pangilinan and John Gokongwei; SM’s Premier Airport Group; and the San Miguel-Incheon Airport consortium.
The roster of foreign airport operators include ADC & HAS of Houston Airport, Malaysia Airports Berhad, and those from Singapore’s Changi Airport, South Korea’s Incheon Airport, France’s Aeroports de Lyon, Switzerland’s Zurich Airport, India’s Delhi Airports.
Several key improvements to the project’s terms were approved by the NEDA Board, making it more attractive to bidders and encouraging more competitive proposals.
These include extending the concession period from 20 years to 25 years, including the operation of the apron or aircraft parking area in the project scope, and imposing a 25-year ban on the operation of competing airports within the province of Cebu apart from the Bantayan and Camotes Islands.
The MCIA Project will modernize the country’s second-largest aviation hub with the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building (PTB) having an 8-million annual passenger design capacity. It will also renovate the existing PTB, which has been operating at over-capacity with 6.7 million passengers going through the structure in 2012.
The MCIA project costs P 17.5 billion.
LRT 1 Cavite extension project
After sweetening the terms of what was dubbed as the biggest PPP project, the DoTC is now all set for the initial stages of the construction of the P 65-billion LRT 1 Cavite extension (Cavex) project.
The improvements in the terms of the project involve government absorbing the obligation to pay real property taxes (RPT), ensuring the integrity of the facility’s structure for a two (2)-year period, subsidizing unexpected surges in power rates beyond a particular range, permitting a five percent fare increase upon completion of the project, and allowing the submission of negative bids.
The NEDA Board’s approval also entailed an increase in the project cost to P 64.9 billion due to the addition of several components to the project’s terms.
These new components, which the DOTC originally intended to pursue as separate projects, will now form part of the winning concessionaire’s obligations, making the LRT-1 Cavex bid more robust.
These new components include some remedial and rehabilitation works for the existing system such as repairing the carriage viaduct, rehabilitating existing trains especially their roofing, and making the LRT-1 system compliant with laws and regulations.
Installation of equipment which will be part of the common ticketing system called the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), which is being bid out by the DOTC separately, for the Cavite extension portion of LRT-1 only.
Other components such as contingency costs on account of the interface risk with related projects such as the AFCS PPP, the construction of the Common Station which will link LRT-1 with Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Lines 3 and 7 in the EDSA-North Avenue area, and the LRT-1 Cavex components procured under the project’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portion.
The DoTC is targeting to schedule its bid submission deadline within the second quarter of 2014.
In order to foster more competitive bids, the DoTC aims to give roughly four to six months’ time from the start of the bidding process to allow new players to come into the picture. The bidding process begins upon the publication of an invitation to bid.
The 11.7-kilometer LRT Line 1 Cavex will start at the present southern end terminal in Baclaran and will have the following stations: Redemptorist – Parañaque City, Manila International Airport – Parañaque City, Asia World – Parañaque City, Ninoy Aquino – Parañaque City, Dr. Santos – Parañaque City, Manuyo Uno – Las Piñas City, Las Piñas – Las Piñas City, Zapote – Bacoor City, Talaba – Bacoor City, and Niog – Bacoor City.
MRT-7 project
Abaya said the MRT-7 project will have 14 stations running in 24 kilomters of line which will start at the area of North Edsa and will extend up to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan via Commonwealth avenue in Quezon City.
The project costs is still being determined.
The project’s proposed stations will be at North Avenue – (Quezon City), Quezon Memorial Circle- (Quezon City), University Avenue – (Quezon City), Tandang Sora – (Quezon City), Don Antonio – (Quezon City), Batasan – (Quezon City), Manggahan – (Quezon City), Doña Carmen – (Quezon City),Regalado Highway – (Quezon City), Mindanao Avenue – (Quezon City), Quirino – (Quezon City), Sacred Heart – (Quezon City), Tala – (North Caloocan City), and Araneta – (San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan).
Common rail station
To interconnect the MRT 3, MRT 7, and LRT Line 1, Abaya said a common rail station will be built at the North Avenue-Trinoma Mall area. The government earmarked P 1.608 billion for the project which is expected to be completed by first quarter of 2015.
Abaya had said that SM Prime Holdings Inc. will keep the naming rights despite the transfer of the station away from the original site near SM Annex.
He said the company already paid P 200 million to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) for the naming rights of the proposed common station.
LRT Line 1 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 via Edsa. The planned MRT 7, on the other hand, will start at the North avenue area and will extend up to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
Integrated Transport Terminals
The Integrated Transport System (ITS) terminal involves the construction of a common provincial bus terminals in the North and South end points of Metro Manila in a bid to decongest traffic jams in the metropolis.
An ITS terminal is now operational in the southern end of Metro Manila located at Macapagal avenue.
The ITS is an offshoot of Executive Order No. 67, which calls for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the ITS. The ITS will put up a bus terminal north of Metro Manila for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes and two in the south, one near the South Luzon Expressway and another near the Coastal Road/Cavitex for provincial buses with Southern Luzon routes.
The ITS project is meant to reduce traffic congestion in the Metropolis because having common provincial bus terminals will do away with the need for provincial buses to ply the roads of Metro Manila.
Citing figures from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there are a total of 13,067 buses that ply Metro Manila roads daily. Nearly 60 percent of these, or a total of 7,368, are provincial buses.
Additionally, there are 85 provincial bus terminals located in Metro Manila, more than half, or 46, are located along EDSA.
Aside from the reduced volume of vehicles, the ITS will make commuting to the provinces more convenient because these will be linked to other available mass transport systems such as the LRT/MRT and PNR.
Puerto Princesa Airport improvements
This US$ 71.62 million project entails expansion of the airport thru the construction of new passenger terminals facilities, new access road, improvement of its runway, and provisions for navigational aids to accommodate increased domestic and international flights.
The project is also expected to revitalize the transport and trade linkages under the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and boost tourism and economic growth in Puerto Princesa City as a Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD).
In August 2012, the Governments of the Republic of the Philippines and Republic of Korea signed a Loan Agreement to support the implementation of the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project.
Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima signed the Loan Agreement on behalf of the Philippine Government while Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) Chairman and President Yong Hwan Kim signed on behalf of the Republic of Korea.
Under the loan agreement, the Republic of Korea, through KEXIM will provide an ODA loan under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund amounting to US$ 71.612 million to finance the improvement and rehabilitation of the gateway airport of the Province of Palawan.
OTHER MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
The Automatic Fare Collection System — Aside from these major projects, the DoTC also marked 2013 with other major achievements , including the bidding for the P 1.72 billion Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) which will upgrade the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) ticketing scheme to a tap-and-go system. This will substantially lessen queuing time and allow seamless transfers from one rail line to another.
DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said five consortia pre-qualified for the bidding and is expected to award the contract to the winning bidder by February next year. Full implementation is expected on the third quarter of 2015.
The five consortia which were pre-qualified by the transport agency earlier this year are the AF Consortium, led by the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups; the SM Consortium, which includes several companies owned by the Sy family; a group led by ComWorks, Inc.; the E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture, Inc.; and the Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium.
The pre-qualified groups have also partnered with foreign companies having established experience in similar ticketing systems, such as those in the technology, banking, transportation, and retail industries.
The AFCS project is part of the DOTC’s thrust to modernize the country’s transportation systems for more convenient, reliable and efficient services.
The winning consortium will also have the option to expand this “contactless” card system to other businesses in and out of the transportation sector, such as in retail transactions.
Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) – The first phase of the 88.85-kilometer four-lane expressway opened in time for the influx of motorists going up north during the commemoration of this year’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
Abaya said the soft opening of the 17-kilometer stretch provided faster, safer, and more convenient travel to the northern provinces.
The first phase of TPLEX runs from La Paz in Tarlac City, then to Victoria, and finally to Gerona in the Province of Tarlac. It is expected to cut travel time by as much as 40 minutes to and from Baguio City.
The next phases for development are a section up to Rosario, Pangasinan which is expected to be completed by mid-2014, followed by another stretch to Rosario, La Union, which is targeted for completion by 2016.
The TPLEX is jointly supervised by the DPWH, which oversees the expressway’s civil works requirements, and the DOTC-Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), which oversees the proper operations of the expressway with emphasis on motorist safety and convenience. Abaya sits as the Chairman of the TRB.
Among the DOTC-TRB’s safety and convenience measures are the deployment of sufficient traffic management personnel and equipment, enforcement of road rules and regulations, and the provision of security and emergency assistance such as 24/7 repair and towing services, firetruck availability, and emergency medical services.
DOTC-TRB also implements safety standards for lighting, fencing, and installing signs, guardrails, and visible lane markings, among others.
Motorist safety and convenience have also been enhanced by the DOTC-TRB’s suggestion to add 1 lane per direction, upgrading the TPLEX to a 4-lane divided expressway instead of the original 2-lane undivided expressway design. This 4-lane design includes a center median which separates traffic in opposing directions, making travel safer and faster for the public.
Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) – President Benigno Aquino III approved the contract for the Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) Stage 3 Project which will connect the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway.
The project will be fully funded by the Citra Central Expressway Corporation at an estimated cost of P 26.5 billion and will be overseen by the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
According to Abaya, this new road is expected to help decongest EDSA and other major roads such as Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Nagtahan, and Quirino and greatly reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from the usual two hours or more to just 15 minutes.
In a 2013 report released by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it estimated that around P 2.4 billion worth of economic and opportunity loss is incurred daily due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
The flood free, mostly elevated six-lane expressway, has an approximate length of 14.2 kilometers and will help reduce pollution, provide greater comfort and safety to the motorists and result to large savings in travel time, fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. It will also provide around 6,000 direct jobs and an additional indirect jobs of around 10,000 during construction.
The project is estimated to be completed in three years as preparatory and advance works will commence before the end of this year. Round the clock construction works is expected by early 2nd quarter next year 2014.
Abaya said the first section of the roadway from Buendia to Nagtahan may be opened for service by early 2016.
“DOTC along with DPWH, MMDA and local governments of Makati, Manila and Quezon City will surely coordinate and do its best to minimize traffic inconvenience throughout the route of the project.” Abaya said.
He added: “Our President is committed to build infrastructure that will ease the worsening traffic congestion and to enhance economic opportunities. This Skyway project will surely do both. Other projects such as the construction of the Tarlac to La Union expressway (TPLEX) and the widening and improvement of the Batangas expressway (STAR) are on-going.”
“New generation” LTO plates – The Land Transportation Office, an attached agency of the DoTC, will soon come out with the “new generation” vehicle license plates which contains several advanced security features and a new alphanumeric design.
The new plates were supposed to be out last September but the LTO said it will be released anytime early next year after some technical glitches have been ironed out.
The new motor vehicle plates will now have a three-letter, four-number combination, and the motorcycle plates will have a two-letter, five-number combination. The private vehicle plates will also come in a black-and-white design, with a look similar to those in more advanced countries such as Singapore and parts of Europe.
The latest technologies adopted as multiple security features include: — Laser-etched bar codes containing selective data inputs which will allow data verification with the LTO.– Reflective sheeting material, which will allow license plate visibility even from wide-entrance angles and up to a distance of 100 feet, for both daytime and nighttime. This will have security images which cannot be removed by any known method without damaging the sheeting.– Anodized bolt head screws and nuts with serial numbers, which will prevent tampering and removal of the license plates from the vehicle bodies once installed.
“The new security features will promote safety and reliability in accordance with international quality standards. They will prevent the tampering, theft, and falsification of license plates, mitigating carnapping, colorum, and smuggling practices,” said DoTC spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal.
Lifting of air ban for Philippine air carriers – Last July 10, the European Commission lifted the ban on Philippine carriers from operating new flights to Europe after it was observed that the country is up to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
That means that the EU can now rely on the judgment of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in connection with the safety standards implemented by airlines used by EU citizens within the country.
As a result, Philippine Airlines launched its re-introductory flight to London on Nov. 6.
All Philippine air carriers were banned from the EU in March 2010 following very poor results from an ICAO audit in 2009 which led to a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) being issued by ICAO.
A follow-up audit by ICAO in October 2012 showed some improvements had been made. However, the SSC was not removed and another added. A further audit in February 2013 found sufficient progress had been made to lift both the SSCs.
The Commission conducted an on-site visit between June 3 and 7, 2013 to verify the situation and to provide information for the Air Safety Committee (ASC) to aid the deliberations on any potential lifting of the current restrictions.
Opening of Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental – On June 13, 2013, President Benigno Aquino III inaugurated the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental. It formally opened to flights two day later.
The P 7.85-million airport is the main airport and the largest one that serves the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, aside from Misamis Oriental and Davao City and the rest of Northern Mindanao province.
This is the first international airport in the region.
The airport sits on a 4.17 square kilometer site in Barangay Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and is located 46 kilometers away from the city center of Cagayan de Oro. It replaced Lumbia Airport in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro.
MRT, LRT fare hike public consultation – The DoTC recently held a public consultation regarding the proposed fare adjustments in the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transits.
The public hearing was held at the LRT Line 2 depot in Santolan, Pasig City which was attened by cause-oriented groups and stakeholders.
Under the proposal, the rail management willl impose an “11 + 1” fare increase, which means that a passenger will be charged with P 11 base fare plus P 1 for every kilometer of travel.
The decision whether to impose a fare hike will be known early next year.
Authorities said a fare hike is necessary so as to cut government subsidy on the fare. In the MRT, an end-to-end trip costs P 15 when it should be P 45.
Completion of NAIA Terminal 3 by third quarter of 2014 – The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 will be fully operational by the third quarter of next year, says DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.
This was after the DoTC sealed an agreement with Takenaka Corporation of Japan for it to complete and integrate the system works at the airport
Under the terms of the agreement, Takenaka, the original subcontractor, will complete the works within 12 months, allowing Terminal 3 to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2014. These works include baggage handling, flight information displays, computer terminals, gate coordination, and fire protection systems, among others.
With this agreement in place, the DOTC commits to having Terminal 3 fully operational by August 2014.The full operation of Terminal 3 will allow a faster and more pleasant experience for passengers flying in and out of Manila. This will also boost the administration’s tourism efforts and make air travel more convenient and efficient, by doubling Terminal 3’s annual capacity to 13 million domestic and international passengers.
The rehabilitation and completion of works on Terminal 3 coincides with other DOTC projects that will further enhance the quality and safety of Philippine aviation.
These include the adoption of a world-class aviation system known as the CNS/ATM (Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management) System, which is now being implemented and will be fully operational by November 2015.
Other improvement projects for various airports across the country are the P 434.5-million Upgrading of Night Landing Operations Project and the P 258.9-Million Installation/Upgrading of Airfield Lighting Systems and Upgrading of Power Supply Systems Project, both of which are currently being bid out by the transport agency.
DoTC’s downsides
With all these major achievements, the DoTC was not spared from controversies as what supposedly happened in the project to improve the Metro Rail Transit 3.
According to news reports, MRT General Manager AL Vitangcol reportedly tried to extort US$ 30 million from Inekon Group in exchange for the contract to supply additional train coaches.
Vitangcol denied the allegations as he went on leave soon after news on the alleged extortion came out in a major daily. He, however, is presently back to his post.
DoTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya ordered for an investigation n the matter. The final report has yet to be issued by the DoTC.
Also, the DoTC has not made public yet its findings on the sea tragedy involving M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and M/V Sulpicio Express Siete in Laiws Ledge, Talisay, Cebu. The incident happened last August but the DoTC has not yet issued any formal results on the investigation.
OTHER PROJECTS AWARDED
The DoTc has also awarded an array infrastructure projects for the year. As of Dec. 5, the department has awarded the following projects:
– Lubang Airport with contract amount of P 14,622,140.35 awarded to SM Castro Management and Construction Services– Bansud Port for P 3,826,136,35 given to King’s Builders and Development Corporation –Pio Duran Port for P 4,239,951.75 awarded to E. Garcia Construction Corporation–Kaputian Multi-Purpose Port at P 2,942,808.08 awarded to L.N.R Construction–Guigaquit Port cntract price of P 4,942,822.18 to Verzontal Builders– DOTC-MRT III Security Services P 106,880,280.00 to KAIZEN Security Agency– Malimono Port for P 4,716,796.30 to Geed Construction– Cotabato Airport for P 55,694,631.88 to Vincent T. Lao Construction — Cagayan De Oro LTFRB Regional Office for Php1,855,973.60 to Adimre Construction — Bicol International Airport for P 708,000,208.20 to Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation — Supply And Delivery of Motor Vehicle License Plates For The Land Transportation Office Motor Vehicle License Plate Standardization Program for P 1,989,846,200 to JKG and Powerplates Joint Venture– Naga Airport P 6,422,260.50 to E. Garcia Construction Corporation– Tangub City LTO District Office Php4,999,888.00 Php4,989,169.96 YSL Builders– Sabang Port for P 11,896,249.30 to E. Garcia Construction Corporation –Cagban Jetty Port for P 23,500,000.00 to International Builders Corporation– Santa Fe Port for P 17,537,313.94 to Square Cube Construction– Northern Palawan Airport for P 45,852,280.84 to BCT Trading and Construction– Marinduque Airport for P 19,929,147.30 to G.A. Flores Construction — Siargao Airport for P 23,565,822.85 to International Builders Corporation– Security Service Provider For The DOTC-Central Office for P 9,669,609.84 to Prime Security Agency– Consulting Services For The Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study Update And Capacity Enhancement Project for P 33,988,858.00 to Woodfields Consultants, Inc.– Maasin Airport for P 57,589,035.00 to Montano Construction and Development Corporation– Mercedes Port for P 7,158,340.61 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Preparatory Works For New Bohol (Panglao) Airport for P 49,358,000.00 to Square Cube Construction — Supply And Delivery of Magnetic Tickets For DOTC-MRT3 P 25,000,000.00 to Banner Pasticard, Inc.– Personal Computers with Peripherals and LGU Technology Solutions and Applications Software P 140,503,776.00 to LDLA — Procurement of DOTC-MRT3 Maintenance Provider for P 658,041,298.95 to APT-Global Inc.– Pilar Port for P 12,182,300.16 to L.N.R. Construction — Tacloban Airport for Php 13,670,382.71 to Jo Builders– Procurement of Computers, Peripherals and Educational Software for P 9,550,000.00 Advance Solutions, Inc.– Catarman Airport for Php7,520,088.88 to Vesa Engineering — Dipolog Airport for Php 26,695,751.89 to Vincent T. Lao Construction — Puerto Prinsesa Airport for Php 21,495,653.43 to DG Sarmenta Construction– Zamboanga Airport for Php 5,738,808.80 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Consulting/Engineering Services for Bicol (DARAGA) International Airport Development Project for Php 110,808,400.00 to Schema Pertconsult, DCCD, PTCC Joint Venture — Consulting Services for the Revision of the Suite of Oracle Financial Systems Resulting From the Revised Chart of Accounts for the National Government Agencies Effective 01 January 2014 for Php 7,957,600.00 to Active Business Solutions, Inc.– DOTC-MRT3 Janitorial Services for Php 66,918,001.92 to Excellent Building Care and General Servies, Inc.– Lease of Photocopying Machines for the DOTC-CENTRAL Office for Php 1,682,640.00 to Otus Copy Systems, Inc.– Kalibo Airport for Php 24,550,000 to International Builders Corporation– San Jose Airport for Php 88,404,026 to Equi Parco Construction — KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 4 for Php 9,633,305.46 to B2K– KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 6 for Php 7,957,426.86 to Honeyville Construction — Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of One Lot of Personnel and Baggage Screening Equipment for Php 225,887,999.46 to DPSPI– KBK Toilet Facilities Improvement Project- Civil Works- Lot 1 for Php 11,878,669.44 to Aquino Dela Cruz Engineering and Construction — Azagra Feeder Port for Php 13,216,634.81 to R.C. Tagala Construction– Alcantara Port for Php 4,482,388.67 to R.C. Tagala Construction– Guimbal Port for Php 1,988,288.28 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Lubang Port for Php 4,088,918.08 to Advance Tech Construction and Trading Corporation– Polambato Access Road for Php 27,874,549.17 to Werr Construction– Pandan Port for Php 4,788,798.41 to T.M. Abad Construction– San Vicente Port for Php 17,588,808.07 to D.K. Jocson Construction — Ormoc Airport for Php 52,242,270.92 to MAC Builders (PNA)
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