Construction of LRT common hub to start

The Transportation Department said the construction of the long-delayed common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train systems will start in September.

“The groundbreaking will be in September,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said, adding that Congress and the private sector already approved the location of the common station.

Tugade signed a memorandum of agreement in January with SM Group’s Henry Sy, Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s Manuel Pangilinan to build the common station for Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and the planned MRT 7.

The MoA contains the design parameters for the common station, which will be the basis of the detailed designs that will be developed after the signing. The location is agreed to be between the original 2009 location in front of The Annex at SM City North EDSA and 2013 location near Trinoma mall.

The P2.8-billion common station will be financed and built by the Transportation Department and is expected to be completed by April 2019.

The MOA would also address the issue of the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on the the common station project.

The common station project started in 2009 but was put on hold due to legal issues and later shelved due to cost overruns and alleged corruption. The Light Rail Transit Authority initially signed a deal with SM to build the station near The Annex at SM City North Edsa. Four years later, the Transportation and Communications Department under the Aquino administration decided to build the station near Ayala’s Trinoma.

The court intervened and issued a temporary restraining order in favor of SM to stop the construction of the project.

China ODA considered for railway South Line

THE GOVERNMENT is keen to obtain financing for the South Line of the North-South Railway Project through official development assistance (ODA) from China after yesterday marking the stations for the North Line of the project, which will be funded by Japan.
“What the economic cluster decided is that the Luzon [railway] will go to Japan and the Bicol line and Mindanao [railway] will go to the Chinese government,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters on the sidelines of the marking ceremony of the Marilao and Meycauayan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban stations of the 106 kilometer (km) Manila-Clark Railway Project on Monday.

According to the Department of Transportation website -- which shows the details of the various infrastructure projects undertaken by the government -- the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Line will run for 653 km, connecting Metro Manila with the Bicol region. It will cost a combined P285 billion for both the PNR South Commuter (P134 billion) and the PNR South Long Haul rail (P151 billion) lines.

The PNR South Long Haul is a 581 km, standard-gauge railway from Manila to Legazpi, passing through Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon and involves the complete reconstruction of the legacy PNR railway into a single-track (initial), at-grade railway, while the PNR South Commmuter line is a 72 km mass transportation railway from Manila to Los Baños, Laguna which will operate through a dual-track, electrified, standard-gauge railway with elevated, at-grade, and depressed sections.

Meanwhile, the Mindanao Railway -- projected for construction by the fourth quarter or early 2018 -- will connect Tagum-Davao City-Digos over a 105-km segment of the planned 2,000-km Mindanao Railway which will connect other key cities in Mindanao such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iligan, Surigao and Zamboanga. The first phase is estimated to cost P31.544 billion.

In January, the cabinet’s economic team, including the Transportation and Public Works Secretaries, met with Chinese officials in Beijing regarding government-to-government projects which included flagship infrastructure projects such as the PNR South Line and the Mindanao Railway.

The government, which has made infrastructure its priority, has said it will reduce the use of public-private partnership (PPP) 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.

Also yesterday, Mr. Tugade -- who, along with Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar -- led the marking ceremony of the five stations of the North Line, part of the 17 stations that will connect Metro Manila to Central Luzon -- said he is hoping that construction of the line will be completed by 2020, ahead of the earlier target of 2021.

Construction of the P255-billion project will start by the last quarter of this year, and will be funded by ODA from Japan. The government signed a $2.37-billion loan from Japan for the North Line of the North-South Commuters Railway (NSCR) deal in November 2015.

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, thus expected to cut the two-hour travel time from Metro Manila to Clark to just 55 minutes and will benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations.

The 12 other stations in the plan for the North Line 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.

“We hope to finish the term of President Duterte with at least 1,000 km of railway system all over the country,” Mr. Tugade said.

In a separate statement yesterday, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said the ongoing Detailed Engineering Design for the NSCR Project, conducted through JICA grant, is nearing completion.

JICA noted that the NSCR will use Japanese technology to ensure commuter safety, taking into consideration seismic factors as well as deploy low-emission electric trains for sustainability. Once implemented, the NSCR could be a “game changer” for the public transport system serving the area, where population density is 19,000 persons for every square kilometer, higher than that of Tokyo and many Asian cities.

The government earlier said commitments of investment and development assistance pledges by Japan and China to the Philippines are among the largest amounts announced by the two neighbors for a single country.

Japan pledged $9 billion and China committed $24 billion worth of investment and development assistance to the Philippines.

106-kilometer (km) Manila- Clark Railway project stations

1. Clark International Airport (proposed) - Clark International Airport, Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City
2. Clark Disneyland (proposed) - Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City
3. Balibago - Brgy. Balibago, Angeles City (Main gate - Clark Special Economic Zone)
4. Angeles (Culiat) - Angeles City (restored)
5. Tablante - Brgy. Baliti, San Fernando (opened in 1924)
6. Calulut - Brgy. Calulut, San Fernando City (flag stop)
7. San Fernando (San Fernando P) - San Fernando City (restored)
8. Santo Tomas - Santo Tomas, Pampanga (ruins)
9. Macaluc - Brgy. Lourdes, Minalin (flag stop)
10. Apalit - Apalit
11. Sulipan - Brgy. Sulipan, Apalit
12. Calumpit Norte - Brgy. Sulipan 
13. Calumpit - Calumpit (originally closed, but still a stopping station)
14. Bagbag - Calumpit
15. Malolos - near the Bulacan Provincial Capitol, Malolos City
16. Dakila - Brgy. Dakila, Malolos
17. Santa Isabel - Brgy. Santa Isabel, Malolos
18. Tabang - Brgy, Tabang, Guiguinto
19. Guiguinto - Guiguinto (ruins)
20. Balagtas (Bigaa) - Balagtas
21. Bocaue (Bocaue) - Bocaue (ruins)
22. Marilao - Marilao
23. ITM - Imperial Textile Mills, Marilao
24. Meycauayan - Meycauayan City
25. Valenzuela (Polo) - near Gen. T. de Leon Street (C5), Barangay General T. de Leon, Valenzuela City
26. Acacia - Brgy. Acacia, Malabon City
27. Caloocan (Kalookan) - Sangandaan, Caloocan City (defunct)
28. Asistio Avenue - Grace Park, Caloocan City (defunct)
29. C-3 (5th Ave) - Grace Park, Caloocan City (defunct)
30. Solis - Tondo, Manila (defunct)
31. Tayuman - Tayuman Street, Tondo, Manila (defunct)
32. Tutuban (Manila/Tondo) - Tondo, Manila

JICA backs PHs North-South Commuter Railway

MANILA, June 27 (PIA) – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) backs the country’s North-South Commuter Railway project – the new railway network that incorporates the latest seismic design.

“The NSCR aims to boost connectivity of emerging growth centers to Metro Manila and improve the mobility of the Filipino commuters,” said JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito.

Ito also said that once completed, NSCR can help address traffic congestion and improve the quality of life of people living and working in urban areas in Metro Manila.”

On Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), NEDA, JICA led the station marking of the first five of the 17 stations where the PNR Manila-Clark rail line will be built: Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban in Metro Manila.

According to the DOTr, the rail system stands to benefit 350,000 passengers daily on its first year of operations. Its construction will start on the last quarter of 2017.

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

The NSCR will use Japanese technology to ensure commuter safety through Japan's seismic design as well as low emission electric trains for sustainability.

Its Detailed Engineering Design includes preparing the railway’s detailed design including alignment of the NSCR line using the old PNR Right of Way, design of elevated structures, architectural designs of stations and depot, technical requirements for signaling system, and rolling stock.

The NSCR, together with the Philippines' Metro Manila Subway Project, is part of the mass transit backbone forming the North-South Corridor advocated in the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development Study for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and JICA in 2014.

The Philippine government and JICA signed on the ¥241.99 billion (*US$1.992.17 billion) Loan Agreement for the NSCR Project on November 27, 2015. The Project, which aims to be operational by 2022, will significantly reduce travel time from two hours using traditional transportation to 35 minutes from Malolos to Tutuban. The NSCR will also provide punctual service for the benefit of the commuters.

JICA added that once implemented, the NSCR could be a game changer in the Philippines’ public transport system whose population density is 19,000 persons for every one square kilometer, higher than Tokyo and most Asian cities.

Since the 1960s, JICA has been supporting Philippine transport infrastructure system through hundreds of roads and bridges to encourage investments and sustain economic growth. (JICA/DOTR/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

DOTr marks first PNR station in Bulacan

By Freddie Velez

MARILAO, Bulacan – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) marked its first PNR station in Bulacan last Monday, one of the stations of the 106-kilometer (km) Manila- Clark Railway project under President Duterte’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program.

“For the first time, a rail project would connect Manila to Central Luzon,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said.

Tugade added that DOTr hopes to finish the term of President Duterte with at least 1,000 kilometers of railway system all over the country.

The entire rail line would have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set. Each train could reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour. The rail line with a total of 17 stations would run from Tutuban passing through Marilao and Malolos and all the way to the Clark International Airport and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.

Aside from significantly reducing the two to three hours travel time from Manila to Clark to just 55 minutes, the rail project is seen to decongest Metro Manila and spur development in its peripheries.

“This project would ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga to travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Manila” shares Philippine National Railways (PNR) general manager Jun Magno.

The PNR North railway project is one of the 61 infrastructure projects under the ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program of the Duterte administration. Construction would begin in the last quarter of 2017 with target completion in 2021. The project costing P255 billion would be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan.

On its first year of operations, about 350,000 passengers daily would benefit from the Manila-Clark Railway project.

Aside from Tugade and Magno, present during the PNR North Station Marking event were Japan’s Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, PNR director general Roberto Lastimoso and Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Susumo Ito.

The five of the 17 stations that were marked in a ceremony last Monday include Meycauayan in Bulacan as well as Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban in Manila.

DOTR fast-tracks railway project

The Department of Transportation (DOTR) is tapping  technical and financial assistance from Japan and China to fast-track the completion of the North- South Commuter Railway (NSCR), a railway project from Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga and to Bicol region.

Arthur Tugade, DOTR  secretary, said the Duterte administration’s economic cluster had decided to partner with Japan for the northern segment and with China for the southern segment.

“We would like to have partnership with countries using their own technologies. What the economic cluster decided (on is for) the group of Luzon will go to the Japanese government, that group… Bicol hopefully will go to the Chinese government, and also Mindanao,” Tugade said.

This will help fast-track the project completion and will avoid delay.

 “If we put (two) systems in one place, I will have a problem of mutual relevance and compatibility,” Tugade said.

“I want to start activities that are not covered by legal requirements of procurement and bidding, (otherwise) I will lose time… If I can do certain things that are not required at this time  (such as) rigid government requirement why don’t we just start it?” he added.

The north line of the NSCR has been practically firmed up as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said the ongoing detailed engineering design for the NSCR project, conducted through JICA grant, is nearing completion.

Yesterday, the DOTR has in fact  unveiled the markers for the location of five of the 17 stations of this portion of the rail, also known as Manila-Clark Railway Project or the Philippine National Railways (PNR) north.

These stations are in Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan and Tutuban in Metro Manila.

 “We  mark (the stations), then we will start construction. We hope to start the construction in the fourth quarter of this year,” Tugade said .

The NSCR north line,  a 106-kilometer line connecting Manila to Central Luzon will  cut down travel time by as much as 70 percent.

With this railway project, commuters can travel from Tutuban to Clark in about an hour or 55 minutes, a significant reduction from the current two to three hours.

The rail line will have a total of 17 stations that will run from Tutuban passing through Marilao and Malolos and all the way to the Clark International Airport and the proposed New Clark City in Tarlac.

This will be the first time  a commuter rail project will be extended to Central Luzon. This project is expected to decongest Metro Manila and spur development in the peripheries of Metro Manila.

“We hope to finish the term of President Duterte with at least 1,000 kilometers of railway system all over the country,” said Tugade.

This  portion  costs about  P255 billion and will be funded by official development assistance 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.

JICA’s  detailed engineering design for the NSCR project identified the locations of, and finalized the designs of, all the future stations.

“The NSCR aims to boost connectivity of emerging growth centers to Metro Manila and improve the mobility of the Filipino commuters,” said Susumu Ito, JICA chief representative. “Once completed, it can help address traffic congestion and improve the quality of life of people living and working in urban areas in Metro Manila,” Ito added.

JICA said the NSCR will use Japanese technology to ensure commuter safety through Japan’s seismic design as well as low emission electric trains for sustainability.

The NSCR’s detailed engineering design includes preparing the railway’s detailed design including alignment of the NSCR line, design of elevated structures, architectural designs of stations and depot, technical requirements for signaling system and rolling stock.

The NSCR, together with the Metro Manila Subway Project, is part of the mass transit backbone forming the North-South Corridor advocated in the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development Study for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas of the National Economic Development Authority and JICA in 2014.

The roadmap is also currently being updated.

The Philippine government and JICA signed on the ¥241.99-billion ($1.992.17 billion) loan agreement for the NSCR Project in Nov. 27, 2015.

The project, which aims to be operational by 2022, will significantly reduce travel time from two hours using traditional transportation to 35 minutes from Malolos to Tutuban.

The NSCR will also provide punctual service for the benefit of the commuters.

JICA said once implemented, the NSCR could be a game changer in the Philippines’ public transport system whose population density is 19,000 persons for every one square kilometer, higher than Tokyo and most Asian cities.

Since the 1960s, JICA has been supporting Philippine transport infrastructure system through hundreds of roads and bridges to encourage investments and sustain economic growth.

The PNR North railway project is one of the 61 infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build program of the Duterte administration.

It will begin construction later this year and targeted for completion in 2021. It is designed to accommodate 350,000 passengers daily on its opening year.

Other rail projects include PNR South (Manila – Los Baños – Bicol) and Mindanao Railway. MRT-7, LRT-2 East Extension, and LRT-1 Cavite Extension projects are all undergoing construction.

NSCR is one of the public-private partnership project left unfinished by the previous administration.

The South Line portion was first opened for bidding in 2015 where five bidders among them giant conglomerates had expressed interest.

The South Line portion which intends to revive the operation going of  PNR  oldest rail system in Southeast Asia to Bicol region.  

 It was proposed to build a 56-kilometer commuter rail service, for daily riders on the Tutuban, Manila to Calamba, Laguna route . The 478-kilometer for Long-Haul Rail service, for travelers on the Tutuban, Manila to Legazpi, Albay route 58 kilometers from Calamba, Laguna to Batangas City, Batangas 117 kilometers from Legazpi, Albay to Matnog, Sorsogon . (M. Iglesias)

Coca-Cola tapped for LRT-1stations improvement project

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said on Friday it has signed an agreement with Coca-Cola Philippines to redesign all its LRT-1 stations as part of the ongoing P500-million Station Improvement Project (SIP).

The partnership between LRMC and Coca-Cola falls under SIP’s Station Domination project, which involves tapping private companies to contribute to LRMC’s ongoing efforts to improve the structure and facilities of its stations. Coca-Cola is the first private company that signed up for the project. It was launched on June 22 and will be in effect for a year.

“Through Station Domination, the LRT-1 central station will be dressed up in Coca-Cola’s iconic bottle and red color. The new aesthetic goes hand-in-hand with the upgrades LRMC has implemented in the station, which include the installation of LED lights, repaired ceilings, and refreshed painting works. Through the partnership, Coca-Cola will be adding vibrance and energy to a commuter’s journey,” LRMC said in a statement.

To date, the central station has been refurbished just like the Dorotheo Jose station. Digital ad screens and a video wall has been installed. The flooring, ceiling and walls have been repainted.

PHAR, the exclusive ancillary revenue partner of LRMC, which made the deal possible said that they have chosen Coca-Cola because of it being “intertwined with the Filipino DNA.”