PCOO wants P1.351-billion budget for 2018

The communication office of President Duterte is seeking a P1.351 billion in the proposed 2018 national budget.

The budget being porposed by the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO), formerly the Office of the Press Secretary, and its attached agencies is equivalent to the P1.3 billion allotted to the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 South Extension (Cavite) Project and higher compared to  the P895 million for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension Project and the P608-million LRT Line 2 West Extension Project.

The PCOO’s budget is also almost thrice the P433-million budget of office of Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo for 2018, which was approved by the lower chamber in less than two-minute deliberations.

The communication office budget is also almost parallel to around P1.5-billion budget cutback on maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of at least 49 public hospitals in the country, which is being opposed by several lawmakers.

During the PCOO proposed budget deliberations, Communication Secretary Martin M. Andanar, however, said the 2018 budget proposal of his office reflects a decrease of P22.3 million, or 1.63 percent lower compared to its 2017 budget of P1.373 billion.

Andanar said the budget will be spent to develop and implement guidelines and mechanism pertaining to the delivery of information relating to policies, programs, activities and achievement of the President, the Cabinet and Executive branch of the government.

He said it will also ensure proper implementation of “Executive Order 2 on Freedom of Information by coordinating with departments and agencies to provide information requested by citizens”.

Andanar added parts of the 2018 budget will also be allocated for the major upgrade of all provincials stations, establishment of Mindanao Communications Hub, establishment of an FM division to reach more audience from various age groups and market segments that AM stations fail to capture. He added that the PCOO budget also seeks to enhance the skills of production and technical personnel through training and retraining.

Meanwhile, Andanar expressed regret over some “erroneous” news postings of some employees of the state-run Philippines News Agency.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/pcoo-wants-p1-351-billion-budget-for-2018/

DPWH to begin construction of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10

The government is set to construct a new elevated expressway in a part of Northern Metro Manila that would connect NLEX and Road 20 to Manila.

On Tuesday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation led the ground breaking ceremony in the NLEX Harbor link segment 10.

The 2.6-kilometer highway will cover the MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon and C3 Road in Caloocan.

Through this, the travel time of vehicles carrying cargoes going to central and northern Luzon will become faster.

The DPWH said the project will be a big help in easing the normally heavy flow of vehicles in Metro Manila.

“There would be a huge cut in congestion, especially along EDSA. Because the trucks that usually ply in Metro Manila can pass through the NLEX via the harbor link,” said DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.

Upon completion, the travel time of motorists from the port area to NLEX is expected to take only 10 minutes.

The project might also help improve businesses and trade in the country.

“We expect a significant contribution of the NLEX system to the Philippine economy. It would be a big relief if we can directly bring to R-10 the NLEX because R-10 has already been cleared and it’s a wide highway,” said Manila North Tollways Corporation president Rod Franco.

As of today, DPWH is addressing the right of way issues in areas that would be covered by the project. The DPWH and NLEX Corporation target to complete the construction of the expressway by December 2018.

https://www.untvweb.com/news/dpwh-begin-construction-nlex-harbor-link-segment-10/

Road 10 section

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar (center) leads the laying of the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the 2.6 kilometer Road 10 section of the NLEX Harbor link Segment on Tuesday. With him are Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III, Caloocan City Planning Officer Aurora Ciego, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation President and CEO Rodrigo Franco. The R-10 section, estimated to cost P16.58 billion, will be the continuation of the 5.7-kilometer elevated expressway passing through MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon and C-3 and 5th Avenue in Caloocan City. (Ali Vicoy)

Metro Pacific allots P6 billion to complete Segment 10 of Nlex Harbor Link

INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is spending roughly P6 billion to construct a the 2.6-kilometer section of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) Harbor Link Segment 10, a ranking official said on Tuesday.

During the groundbreaking ceremonies of the R-10 Section of the Harbor Link, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. President Rodrigo E. Franco said his group is ready to invest the amount to finish the alignment, which is vital to the completion of Segment 10.

“This section will complete the Harbor Link project. It is a short 2.6-km section that is very critical, for this section will bring NLEx closer to the port areas,” he said. “We have committed to invest approximately P6 billion in this project, which will enhance mobility and improve convenience.”

The R-10 section is the continuation of the 5.7-km Segment 10, an elevated expressway passing through MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City and C3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City.

The section will have two exit ramps: one in Navotas, and another one in Malabon. “Hence, two cities are added to the Nlex map. The project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of next year,” Franco added.

Franco said the project will “greatly enhance  the flow of trade and commerce by directly connecting the northern regions to the ports”.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar agreed, saying it will help spur growth in the economies of the Camanava area and the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon.

“It is expected to improve transport logistics and drive business investments in the Camanava and the Central and North Luzon provinces,” he said.

Villar added the completion of the whole Harbor Link project is a necessity to decongest major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

“More than an initial 20,000 vehicles will be reduced from the traffic. We cannot widen Edsa, so this is a good alternative,” he said.

The Harbor Link’s R-10 section is designed to provide direct access between the port area and the northern provinces of Luzon via Nlex. It will decongest Metro Manila by offering an alternative entry to the Nlex, bypassing Edsa and other busy streets of Manila.

“With the completion of the Harbor Link project, we expect a significant contribution of the Nlex system to the Philippine economy,” Franco said.

Metro Pacific is set to spend P130.5 billion in the next five years to build toll roads and highways around the country. Currently, it has the largest network of thoroughfares in the Philippines.

The company also has interests in toll-road companies in Thailand and Vietnam, as it is “continuing to look for other investment opportunities in the region”.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/metro-pacific-allots-p6-billion-to-complete-segment-10-of-nlex-harbor-link/

Traffic starts to build up on Commonwealth as MRT-7 construction starts

Traffic along Commonwealth Avenue westbound in Quezon City has started to build up on Tuesday morning as construction for the Metro Rail Transit 7 began.

Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported that two lanes were closed along the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue from University Avenue to Central Avenue.

Motorists have been advised to expect heavy traffic on Commonwealth Avenue as construction of the guideway for the MRT-7 starts on Tuesday.

The MRT-7 Project Traffic Management Task Force said that the construction of Station 3 (University Avenue Station) is expected to last until April 2018. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News