Traffic-busting infra gets JICA support

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) yesterday vowed to continue support to the Philippines’ key transport infrastructure projects to help address the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Under the Philippines’ Build Build Build program, JICA is supporting transport infrastructure with flagship projects such as the construction of the 38-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway for Malolos-Tutuban and the 25-km Metro Manila Subway connecting Mindanao avenue to FTI in the south and further to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, among others to further address traffic gridlock and attract more investments.

At the recently convened 36th Joint Meeting of Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committees attended by Japanese and Filipino public and private stakeholders, JICA said the economic cost of transportation in Metro Manila is P3.5 billion a and could go up to 5.4 billion a day in 2035.

The economic cost of transportation refers to the vehicle operating cost and time cost spent by drivers and passengers along with the road network in Metro Manila, not economic loss nor congestion loss, and does not reflect any assessment of specific transport policy or policy measures.

“The government’s priorities are aligned with the strategies proposed in the roadmap study. It is therefore worth noting the steps taken by the current government to pursue transport infrastructure projects that will create positive change in the life of all Filipinos,” said Susumo Ito, JICA chief representative, in commending the efforts undertaken by the current administration to accelerate the implementation of the Build, Build, Build Program, particularly for those projects currently planned and implemented under key infrastructure agencies.

The roadmap Ito was referring to is the  JICA-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) study “Follow-Up Survey on the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for the Greater Capital Region.”

Arthur Tugade, transportation secretary, earlier said 2018 is the year for railways as five major railway lines will start or continue construction this year.

From only 72 km of railways, the Philippines will build at least 1,500 to 1,900 km of railways during this administration.

These projects include PNR Clark, PNR Bicol, LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Metro Manila Subway, Metro Rail Transit line 7 (MRT7) as well as a common station for the three-rail system in Metro Manila.

The first week of 2018  marked the commencement of works for PNR Clark. The line stretches from Tutuban to Malolos in Bulacan and ends in Clark, Pampanga.

PNR Bicol is also set for construction in the third quarter of the year.

Phase 1 is the PNR South Commuter which will connect Metro Manila to Los Banos, Laguna while Phase 2 goes all the way to Matnog, Sorsogon.

Metro Manila Subway is also set for groundbreaking in the fourth quarter.

“(Metro Manila Subway) will have a partial operation by 2021, covering three stations, depot, and the training center. Once completed by 2025,  the subway will start from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City leading up to NAIA.” Tugade said.

Apart from these lines, the common station in Quezon City shall also begin construction this year after eight years of delay.

The common station will connect the four major rail systems in the metro, MRT 3, LRT-1, MRT7, and the Metro Manila Subway.

It started during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and had stalled during the entire presidency of Benigno Aquino III, during which the legal row erupted due to its decision to transfer the station’s location.

The government, through then DOTC and LRTA signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings in 2009 for the construction of the common station in front of its North EDSA mall. SM has also secured naming rights to the common station for P200 million.

The location of the project was changed in May 2013, under then Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. 

On November 21, 2013, then-President Aquino III 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 the 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.

He decided to make the common station part of the P65-billion LRT 1 extension project of the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) – a consortium made up of Ayala Corp., Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings.

The transportation department then insisted on locating the common station near TriNoma, saying this would save the government P1.4 billion.

SM later sued the government for an alleged breach of the 2009 contract, and the Supreme Court issued a stay order in June 2014 stopping the award of the contract to the winning bidder for the construction of the common station in front of Trinoma owned by Ayala Corp.

Given the importance of the project, Abaya pushed for a compromise and even suggested two small common stations — one each in The Annex at SM City North EDSA and in Trinoma. The decision on the project hung for the remainder of the Aquino III administration.

The current site, between The Annex at SM City North EDSA and Ayala Land Inc.’s Trinoma Mall in Quezon City, was agreed upon by all parties last January after months of negotiations with the Department of Transportation under President Duterte.

At the joint meeting, Ito shared in his presentation the preliminary results of the follow-up study. The final result of said study has yet to be approved by the relevant process of the Philippine government.

Audit on Dalian trains to conclude March 10

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects the audit on the 48 trains delivered from Dalian CCRC for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) to be completed by March 10.

The audit of the independent audit and assessment (IAA) consultant TUV Rheinland would be vital in determining whether the Dalian trains can be used for the MRT system.

“Ang sinasabi nila ay they will be able to finish it by March 10. Using that expert opinion audit report, then we can rightfully say ito ba talaga ang problema? Will Dalian be able to operate? We don’t know. (They told us that they will be able to finish it by March 10. Using that expert opinion audit report, then we can rightfully say is this really the problem? Will Dalian be able to operate? We don’t know),” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a television interview Monday.

Last January, the DOTr has completed the procurement of an IAA Consultant that will evaluate and make recommendations on what to do with the 48 Dalian cars or Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) in addition to evaluating and making recommendations for other components of MRT-3.

Concerns were raised earlier with the 48 LRVs procured by the previous administration for PHP3.8 billion after they exceeded the weight prescribed in the Terms of Reference (49,700-kg vs. 46,300-kg). Compatibility with the MRT-3’s maintenance facilities and signaling system were also an issue.

With the current fleet of Czech-made trains, MRT-3 can operate up to 20 3-car trains.

If the 48 LRVs are cleared to run, that can be increased to 20 4-car trains.

Tugade also said that MRT operations is expected to improve by April or May as spare parts which are necessary for the increase in the number of running trains are set to arrive in the country.

“Madadagdagan ang tren na tumatakbo, mababawasan ang mga glitches. (There will be more trains, glitches will be lessened). If spare parts are there, this will lead to improvement,” according to the transportation secretary.

A Special Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) created by the DOTr has completed the procurement of spare parts last December with a delivery lead time of 30 to 90 days.

The initial batch of parts has started arriving this month.

The DOTr has also signed an agreement with Canadian firm Bombardier Transportation for the procurement of spare parts for the signaling system of the MRT-3.

The repair of the MRT system is expected to cost around PHP400 million and last for six months.

Tugade likewise said he prefers that the operations and maintenance of the railway system be done by the private sector as the department seeks to finish the deliberations on the MRT takeover within this year.

The DOTr has granted the original proponent status to Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) for MRT’s rehabilitation, operations and maintenance.

The firm’s proposal has been submitted to the National Economic Development Authority and will undergo Swiss Challenge once it is approved providing an opportunity for other companies to make competing offers while giving the original proponent to match them.

“Ang plano they will take everything: management, operations and equity. Kapag nabigay po natin ang gobyerno wala pribado lang maganda yun. Basta regular ang pasok ng revenue takes sa gobyerno through royalties or fees. (The plan is they will take everything: management, operations and equity. It is good if the private sector will take over. As long as the government will be able to receive revenues regularly through royalties or fees),” Tugade said.

Under its proposal, MPIC will rehabilitate the train systems of the MRT and take over its operations for a period of 32 years.

It is likewise eyeing to buy out the government’s stake in the railway system held by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines as well as other shareholders.

The rehabilitation, operations and maintenance would be pursued through a separate special purpose vehicle similar to the Light Rail Manila Corporation which operates the Light Rail Transit Line 1. (PNA)

DOTr eyes opening three subway stations by 2020

Three stations for the planned Mega Manila Subway are expected to be operating by 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Monday.

The three stations are North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Tandang Sora in Quezon City.

"[The Japan International Cooperation Agency] says in three years, operable iyan (it will be operable)," DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade told CNN Philippines' The Source. "I'm still hoping I can reduce it to two and a half years so... we will experience the joy and comfort of riding a subway."

Tugade added groundbreaking for the project is set by the end of 2018, a year ahead of schedule.

"Ibig sabihin, mag-uumpisa ho yung trabaho ng konstruksyon sa tatlong estasyon na magiging partially operable," Tugade said.

[Translation: This means we can start construction for three stations to be partially operable.]

The Mega Manila Subway is a 25-kilometer underground railway which is expected to carry 370,000 passengers a day.

It is expected to cover 13 stations from Mindanao Avenue to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. Proposed stops for the subway in 2017 did not include Tandang Sora.

The P227 billion project is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. It is expected to be completed by 2025.

Plans for the new railway system come amid faltering services of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) line, where an average of two glitches a day were reported in 2017.

Tugade pegged better MRT services by "April or May," upon the arrival of spare parts.

He added that he hopes Sumitomo Corporation and its technical partner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, would return as a maintenance provider by the summer.

Tugade did not comment on the controversial P3.8 billion-worth Dalian trains, which have not been used amid concerns they were too heavy or not compatible with the MRT. A consultant told the Senate this month that the trains were within the allowable weight range.

The secretary said he would wait for a final quality audit report by international certification body TÜV Rheinland before determining whether the government would put the trains to use.