Motoring Today | Motoring News: Updates on PNR Bicol Express

The DOTr is reviving the Philippine National Railway’s Bicol Express with the reconstruction of a new railway system from Manila to Bicol. Here are updates from DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan.



Once operational, the revived Bicol Express is seen to take six hours to reach Bicol from Manila with a design speed of 120kph and operational speed of 80kph.



This project is being built through the P175 billion loan from the Chinese government which was signed on November 2018 during the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meeting in Manila. It was followed by the signing of contract with the Project Management Consultant or the PMC for the said project.



Moreover, Transport Undersecretary TJ Batan added that the PMC has presented their outputs to Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade during his recent visit to China for the regular official bilateral meeting.



According to the department, there would be nine new train stations from Paco in Manila to Matnog town in Sorsogon.



The government highlights that the PNR-Bicol Express will be reconstructed instead of rehabilitated, which means everything will be new—from the trains to the stations.

DPWH postpones Quezon-Bicol road feasibility study to third quarter

THE feasibility study for the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QBEx) is now expected to be submitted in the third quarter to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the delay is due to the additional work needed in regard to finalizing the road’s alignment.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said on Wednesday: “It’s going to be done third quarter of this year… Paglabas ng FS, isa-submit na namin kaagad sa NEDA (After the feasibility study, we’ll submit it to NEDA right away),” he told reporters on Wednesday after inspecting the C5 South Link Project in Taguig City.

“The expressway is about 220 kilometers. It’s a big project… It’s very complicated. There will be bridges too. It’s really long,” he added.

In February, DPWH Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Director Alex G. Bote said the agency is hoping to submit the QBEx feasibility study to NEDA in March. At the time, the road was expected to run between Lucena City and San Fernando, Camarines Sur, which is near Naga.

In a text message on Sunday, Mr. Bote said the alignment of QBEx may still change until the detailed engineering design is completed, which is the next step after NEDA evaluates the plans.

“Available alignment (conceptual) for QBEx still has a chance of moving/changing, kasi magkaron lang talaga yan ng finality ‘pag may detailed engineering design na [because it will only have finality once there’s a detailed engineering design]. Now, FS for QBEx is ongoing,” he said.

Once the DPWH finishes the feasibility study, the NEDA will determine the cost of the project and its mode of financing. Mr. Bote earlier said it may take a public-private partnership scheme, financing from official development assistance (ODA) or the general appropriations act (GAA), or a mix of any of the three modes. — Denise A. Valdez

https://www.bworldonline.com/dpwh-postpones-quezon-bicol-road-feasibility-study-to-third-quarter/

Meralco, Japan partners investing P6.3b in Clark

The joint venture of Manila Electric Co., Marubeni Corp., The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. are investing P6.3 billion over 25 years to operate and maintain the electric power distribution system in New Clark City.

The decision followed the signing of a joint venture agreement between the Meralco Marubeni Consortium and Bases Conversion Development Authority on April 3 for the financing, design and engineering, establishment, construction, development and operation and maintenance of the electric power distribution system in New Clark City project.

“This transaction involves the financing, design and engineering, establishment, construction, development and operation and maintenance of the electric power distribution system in New Clark City for an initial period of 25 years, renewable for another 25 years,” Meralco said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday.

Meralco said the necessary regulatory requirements included Philippine Competition Commission’s approval, legislative franchise, certificate of public convenience and necessity and capital expenditures and rate approvals by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

“The transaction is an opportunity for Meralco to participate in the development of New Clark City and generate additional revenues in the operation of its electric distribution system there,” Meralco said.

The Meralco-Marubeni consortium special purpose vehicle is majority-controlled by Meralco with a 60-percent stake, Marubeni Corp. with 20 percent, Kansai Electric Power Co. with 10 percent  and Chubu Electric Power with 10 percent. BCDA will reportedly take the remaining 10 percent.

BCDA already issued the notice of award to Meralco as the power distributor of New Clark City after offering the lowest power supply rate. Meralco and Marubeni submitted the lowest power distribution rate for the New Clark City at P0.6188 per kilowatt-hour.

The Meralco consortium  is initially investing around P1 billion to put up the power distribution facilities at New Clark City in preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games slated late this year.

Meralco senior vice president Rogelio Singson said the company was initially looking at a demand of 10 to 14 megawatts for the New Clark City facilities.

“It can still be ramped up. So we were telling them, at first they want everything smart, underground. I said, with that demand, how much tariff are you prepared to pay…Overhead, we can do it….Smart city yes, but not immediately until you have the consumption,” Singson said.

He said Meralco committed that the power lines to the facilities would be ready by June or July.

“We’re helping them [BCDA] out in terms of specifications so that when it is eventually turned over to Meralco, it is acceptable,” Singson said.

The New Clark City managed by BCDA is envisioned to be the first smart, green and sustainable metropolis in the country where locators and residents will enjoy low utility rates.

The New Clark City will have the first completely smart power grid in the country. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities comparable with other smart cities throughout the world, the New Clark City smart grid also has better reliability standards.

Locators can also enjoy access to real-time information from the distribution utility, allowing them to manage their electricity consumption more effectively.

Phase 1 of the New Clark City development includes the construction of the National Government Administrative Center and world-class sports facilities to be used for the Philippines’ hosting of the Sea Games.

http://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/292013/meralco-japan-partners-investing-p6-3b-in-clark.html