Manila-Clark Railway is on its way

Metro Manila’s traffic congestion is not only an inconvenience but also a financial burden, costing the Philippine economy losses of around P2.4 billion daily, according to a study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Color coding or limiting the volume of cars are not long-term solutions to solving the traffic problem, especially where mobility options are insufficient in the Philippines. Fortunately, there is progress in developing the country’s mass transit system—specifically with a new 106-km railway project that will run from Tutuban, Manila to Clark, Pampanga.

On Monday, June 26, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the marking of five stations of the Manila-Clark Railway Project located in the following areas: Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Tutuban in Metro Manila.  Apart from the five marked stations, the project has 12 other stations in Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport, and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.



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

The Manila-Clark Railway is expected to cut the 2-hour travel time from Manila to Clark to just 55 minutes. Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno also sees the project as a way to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic gains throughout the country. “This project will ease traffic congestion and help thousands of commuters coming from Bulacan and Pampanga who travel daily to their workplaces or schools in Metro Manila,” said Magno.

The Manila-Clark Railway is scheduled to begin construction in the last quarter of 2017, and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2021. The project will cost around PhP255 billion, funded through Japan’s Official Development Assistance.

The Manila-Clark Railway forms part of several alignments in the PNR’s Luzon System Development Framework: Tutuban-Malolos alignment with a 37.6-km length, and the Malolos-Clark International Airport-Clark Green City (CGC) alignment with a 68.7-km length. Other alignments include: Subic Port-Clark, CGC-Tarlac-San Fernando, Tarlac-San Jose-Tugeugarao, Los Baños-Legazpi, Legazpi-Matnog, and Calamba-Batangas which make-up a total of 1,317 km of railway in Luzon.

The Manila-Clark Railway is designed to have 13 train sets with a maximum speed reaching up to 120 km per hour. DOTr Assistant Secretary for Rail TJ Batan says there will be no significant traffic disruption during the construction of the Manila-Clark Railway because the project will be building on PNR’s right of way instead of on existing roads.

Population density, concentration of rural development and jobs, and lack of a mass transit system are some of the factors which cause traffic congestion in Metro Manila. The Manila-Clark Railway system is only one of several solutions that are needed to address Metro Manila’s traffic problem, but it is a good start. After all, progress is achieved not only through giant leaps but also through hundreds of baby steps.

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved a National Transport Policy (NTP) that aims to unify all transport-related projects in the country, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said Wednesday.

The policy, which was adopted during the Neda Board meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, June 27, will specifically synchronize decisions and investments of all transport-related agencies and better coordinate such efforts between the national and local levels.

The NTP envisions a national transport system that is "safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated, intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and people-oriented," Neda said.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that the primary goal of the Duterte administration is to translate the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017–2022 into actual programs that will benefit Filipinos, considering traffic in urban areas most especially.

"The government assures the people that the problem of congestion on the roads is still being prioritized. The NTP is a priority strategy reflected in the PDP as we seek to provide accessible social services through better connectivity," Pernia added.

NTP's Implementing Rules and Regulations has yet to be formulated, Neda said.

During the Neda Board meeting, 11 huge projects were also approved, Neda said.

These include the P35.26-billion Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment; P211.43-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR North 2); P9.89-billion Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project; P12.55-billion Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project; P3.47-billion Education Pathways to Peace in Conflict-Affected Areas of Mindanao; and P1.19-billion Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program - Philippines. The other six are the P10.87-billion New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project; 30-Month Loan Validity Extension and Reallocation of Funds; P2.8 billion New Configuration of the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project - Common Station/Unified Grand Central Station (North Extension Project); P4.62-billion Change in Scope, Cost, and Financing Arrangements for the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II; P10.86-billion Change in Financing of the New Centennial Water Source – Kaliwa Dam Project; and P2.7-billion Project Approval and Change in Financing of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project. (SDR/SunStar Philippines)

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Common Station groundbreaking expected by September -- Tugade

THE COMMON STATION that will link Metro Manila’s three urban rail systems will finally break ground in September after securing the approval from “people that matter,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said, following contentions on the location of the project.

On Jan. 18, the government, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Director Hans T. Sy, Ayala Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President and CEO Ramon S. Ang signed a Memorandum of Agreement which among others detailed that the common station will be located in the middle of the original 2009 site in front of The Annex at SM City North EDSA and the 2013 location near Ayala’s TriNoma mall in Quezon City, ending a deadlock spanning nearly eight years, resulting led the arrest and detention of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from a controversy following the filing of a complaint for electoral sabotage by the Commission on Elections, the impeachment trial and death of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and the detention of former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla in connection to the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

“September,” Mr. Tugade told reporters when asked when the groundbreaking will be held.

Construction of the 13,700-square meter common-station project is expected to start by December this year and be completed by April 2019. This will connect LRT Line 1 (LRT-1), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and the currently under-construction MRT-7 from North Avenue, Quezon City to Araneta-Colinas Verdes Subdivision, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Some sectors, however, have expressed concern over the location of the common station. The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, for one, described the MoA as a “compromise agreement,” adding that “public convenience, not the least cost, should be the main consideration for the MRT-LRT common station.”

Some lawmakers have also expressed skepticism over the proposed new location, which they said “clearly meant to favor the business interests of the two malls” and “sacrificed the welfare of the public.”

“Na-explain ko na ho sa mga pamunuan, kasama na yung mga sa pribado, maski na ho yung mga liderato sa Kongreso, ’yung mga kasamahan natin sa Gabinete na kung saan naliwanagan naman sila kung bakit kailangan ’yung common station doon po ilagay,” Mr. Tugade told reporters. (I explained to the government, even the private [sector], the leadership of Congress, our colleagues in the Cabinet and they were enlightened about why the common station should be [where we proposed it to be].)

“Meron pa ring may ayaw diyan, pero ’yung opinyon, ’yung approval ng people that matter, okay na, kaya ilalagay na po [’yung common station doon] (There are those still opposed to it, but we have the opinion and approval of the people who matter.),” the Transportation chief added.

The government will shell out P2.8 billion for the construction of the common station’s Area A -- where the platform and entrance for LRT-1 and MRT-3 will be located.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the original cost for the 2009 location was P2.6 billion at 7,200 sq.m., while the 2014 location cost was pegged at P1.4 billion at approximately 2,500 sq.m.

The P2.8 billion will be financed and built by the DoTr, while the operation, maintenance, and development will be split between Light Rail Manila Corp. for LRT-1 and DoTr for MRT-3.

Henry Sy-led SM and Ayala’s TriNoma will have naming rights for the common station.

The impasse over the common station location ended in September 2016, after the DoTr’s meeting with Messrs. Pangilinan, Sy, Zobel, Ang and SM Investments Corp. Vice-Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson.

To recall, in 2009, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and SM Prime entered into an agreement for the common station to be located at a junction near SM City North EDSA.

In 2013, the DoTr -- then the Department of Transportation and Communications -- decided to transfer the common station to a site across the TriNoma mall, saying this will reduce construction costs. This prompted SM Prime to sue the government for breach of contract.

On November 21, 2013, former President Benigno Aquino 3rd and his Cabinet approved seven infrastructure projects worth more than P100 billion, including the construction of a common station that would link Metro Manila’s two overhead train services near the TriNoma mall in Quezon City. The Common Station at the TriNoma will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, and the future MRT-7 line. The project will also involve construction of head-to-head platforms for LRT 1 and MRT 3 with a 147.4-meter elevated “walkalator” to MRT 7 on North Avenue.

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

In July 2014, SM Prime secured a Supreme Court (SC) stay order stopping the transfer of the common station’s site to TriNoma. The high court in May 2016 refused the government’s plea to lift the halt order.

The DoTr said early this year that SM Prime, DoTr, and the LRTA will file a joint manifestation with the SC advising the Court of the MoA to address the issue of the TRO vis-a-vis the common station project.

LRT operator to partner with private firms to hike non-fare revenues

Jacque Manabat
ABS-CBN News

LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said it is open to partnering with private companies to raise non-fare revenues and improve its stations. 
LRMC President and CEO Rogelio Singson announced today that Coca Cola will be its first partner. Under this program, the LRT-1 Central station will be decorated in Coke's iconic bottle and color. 
The new design goes complements the upgrades LRMC has implemented on the facility such as the use of LED lights, repainting and repairs on its ceiling.
Singson said they are looking into more partnerships with other private companies.
"We're hoping we could increase our non-fare revenues by 30 percent so we could continue with the stations' improvements. All of that are not covered by fare adjustments," Singson said.
He said that even before its partnership with Coke, there were already ongoing improvements in the stations and trains.
Last Monday, LRT-1 increased the number of available light rail vehicles (LRVs) to 104 from the 77 they received from the government when they took over in 2015.
Out of the 100 LRVs committed to be delivered to LRMC on its takeover, only 77 were in running condition.
"What was committed to us was they will deliver by December 2016 last year, but realizing that the trains will be delivered 2020 or 2019 we have to make do with what we have. We have to go through engineering rehab of rolling stocks"
Singson said that 26 trains run during peak hours with headway reduced from 4 minutes to 3 minutes. Train speed also increased from 40kph to 60kph resulting in shorter queues and more passengers served. 
Because of the additional trains, LRT-1 is planning to add more trips on weekends. The railway operator is also aiming to finish improvements to all its stations this December. 
Singson assured the public that these improvements will not lead to a fare hike.
"We already have a structure on the concession agreement and this will not add or reduce the fare. Under the concession agreement the tarif is already in place."
Singson also mentioned that they're willing to join the bidding for the improvement of other railways, such as the MRT-3.