If you’re one of the Caviteños in the Manila workforce, then this is something you’re surely looking forward to: The Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Light Rail Transit Authority, and the Light Rail Manila Corporation have announced the start of construction of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project tomorrow, May 7, 2019.
The project will stretch the current LRT-1 railway from Baclaran to Niog in Bacoor, Cavite, and is set to begin partial operations in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The project broke ground during a ceremony in May 2017. It marked the beginning of the painstaking pre-construction phase, which has been completed only recently. The DOTr further elaborated the process in its Facebook post:
Eight new train stations will be positioned along the 11.7km rail-line extension, which is expected to significantly increase the transit system’s capacity from 300,000 to 800,000 passengers daily. The new stations will be located in Redemptorist, MIA, Asiaworld, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, and Zapote.
According to the DOTr, the mock-ups of 120 light rail vehicles have been delivered in January. The agency also claimed that all is set for the expansion of the Baclaran Depot and the building of the new Zapote Depot.
Although the construction is certain to cause heavier traffic around the covered areas, the completed LRT-1 extension will surely improve the mass public-transport system in the long run. If you’re one of the potential beneficiaries of this project, tell us what you think.
https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/dotr-lrt-1-cavite-extension-a4354-20190506
Monday, May 6, 2019
DOTr, LRTA, LRMC begin today full-blast construction of LRT-1 Cavite extension
The full-blast construction of the LRT-1 Cavite extension project starts today, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) announced Monday.
What commences tomorrow (May 7) is the actual construction of the extension line, fulfilling the decades-old promise of connecting the province of Cavite to Metro Manila through a railway network, they said.
Tomorrow’s (May 7) ceremony marks a substantial movement from the groundbreaking rite held in May 2017, which was actually intended to mark the start of pre-construction activities then of the rail extension project, they said Monday in a statement.
Since the start of pre-construction activities in May 2017, the DOTr and the LRTA immediately proceeded to the gargantuan task of resolving the Right-of-Way Acquisition (ROWA).
“The ROWA process for LRT-1 Cavite extension started way back in 2007. But when the Duterte administration took over in July 2016, 0 percent of the ROW was certified as ‘free and clear’ by an independent consultant (IC),” a press statement stated.
But through the political will and industry of transport officials under the leadership of DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the ROWA process has now been completed, and the right of way for nearly the entire stretch of the rail extension line to Cavite was certified “free and clear” by the IC.
During the pre-construction phase, as well, the DOTr and LRTA accomplished the relocation of Informal Settler Families (ISFs), utilities, and clearing of the construction yard.
Further, the delivery of 120 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), the mock-up of which has been delivered in January this year, is on track to meet the target of partial operations by the fourth quarter of 2021.
All things are also set for the start of expansion of the Baclaran Depot and the construction of the new Zapote Depot.
The LRMC is also ready to commence construction of the viaducts and the eight new train stations, as over 90 percent of the ROW of Package 1 has been certified free and clear by the IC.
With all these preparations and pre-construction activities accomplished, we are now ready to start the actual construction of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/06/dotr-lrta-lrmc-begin-today-full-blast-construction-of-lrt-1-cavite-extension/
What commences tomorrow (May 7) is the actual construction of the extension line, fulfilling the decades-old promise of connecting the province of Cavite to Metro Manila through a railway network, they said.
Tomorrow’s (May 7) ceremony marks a substantial movement from the groundbreaking rite held in May 2017, which was actually intended to mark the start of pre-construction activities then of the rail extension project, they said Monday in a statement.
Since the start of pre-construction activities in May 2017, the DOTr and the LRTA immediately proceeded to the gargantuan task of resolving the Right-of-Way Acquisition (ROWA).
“The ROWA process for LRT-1 Cavite extension started way back in 2007. But when the Duterte administration took over in July 2016, 0 percent of the ROW was certified as ‘free and clear’ by an independent consultant (IC),” a press statement stated.
But through the political will and industry of transport officials under the leadership of DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the ROWA process has now been completed, and the right of way for nearly the entire stretch of the rail extension line to Cavite was certified “free and clear” by the IC.
During the pre-construction phase, as well, the DOTr and LRTA accomplished the relocation of Informal Settler Families (ISFs), utilities, and clearing of the construction yard.
Further, the delivery of 120 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs), the mock-up of which has been delivered in January this year, is on track to meet the target of partial operations by the fourth quarter of 2021.
All things are also set for the start of expansion of the Baclaran Depot and the construction of the new Zapote Depot.
The LRMC is also ready to commence construction of the viaducts and the eight new train stations, as over 90 percent of the ROW of Package 1 has been certified free and clear by the IC.
With all these preparations and pre-construction activities accomplished, we are now ready to start the actual construction of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/06/dotr-lrta-lrmc-begin-today-full-blast-construction-of-lrt-1-cavite-extension/
LRT1 Cavite extension construction to start Tuesday
The construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite Extension is set to begin on Tuesday, May 7, almost five years after the project was awarded to a private proponent.
"What commences tomorrow is the actual construction of the extension line, fulfilling the decades-old promise of connecting the province of Cavite to Metro Manila through a railway network," the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a statement sent to reporters via Viber.
"Tomorrow's ceremony marks a substantial movement from the groundbreaking rite held in May 2017, which was actually intended to mark the start of pre-construction activities then of the rail extension project," added the department.
The statement comes five years after the P64.9-billion project was awarded to the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) in September 2014.
LRMC is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation, and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings.
The LRMC, however, only took over the operations and maintenance of the LRT1 rail system in September 2015.
Under the agreement, LRMC will manage the LRT1 for 32 years, during which it will also extend the line by 11.7 kilometers (km) to 32.4 km from the current 20.7 km.
The contract states that LRMC, as the private partner, will undertake the design, construction, and financing of the Cavite Extension, as well as the operation and maintenance of the integrated system upon completion of the project.
To recall, former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said that he, along with former Transportation and Communciations Secretary Emilio Joseph "Jun" Abaya, was willing to be run over by a train if the project does not materialize by 2015.
"If I haven't ridden on it by 2015, I will be severely disappointed," Aquino also said in 2012.
Abaya earlier said that the delays were caused by the failure in the project's bidding process under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.
"When the president made that announcement we were still leading up to the bid. No one plans for a failure of bid. We were highly guarding the passenger side, no one showed up at the day of bidding," he said in July 2015.
For his part, then-Communications Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said that Aquino's remarks were not to be taken literally.
"Since the start of pre-construction activities in May 2017, the DOTr and the LRTA immediately proceeded to the gargantuan task of resolving the Right of Way Acquisition (ROWA)," the DOTr said Monday.
"With all these preparations and preconstruction activities accomplished, we are now ready to start the actual construction of the LRT1 Cavite Extension," it elaborated.
Looking ahead, the DOTr said the extension is expected to be partially operational within the next two years.
"We are training our sights on partial operability of the first five stations of the extension line in two years, or by 2021, to give Filipinos the comfortable life they deserve through enhanced mobility and connectivity," it said. — BM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/693485/lrt1-cavite-extension-construction-to-start-tuesday/story/
"What commences tomorrow is the actual construction of the extension line, fulfilling the decades-old promise of connecting the province of Cavite to Metro Manila through a railway network," the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said in a statement sent to reporters via Viber.
"Tomorrow's ceremony marks a substantial movement from the groundbreaking rite held in May 2017, which was actually intended to mark the start of pre-construction activities then of the rail extension project," added the department.
The statement comes five years after the P64.9-billion project was awarded to the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) in September 2014.
LRMC is a consortium of Ayala Corporation, Metro Pacific Light Rail Corporation, and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings.
The LRMC, however, only took over the operations and maintenance of the LRT1 rail system in September 2015.
Under the agreement, LRMC will manage the LRT1 for 32 years, during which it will also extend the line by 11.7 kilometers (km) to 32.4 km from the current 20.7 km.
The contract states that LRMC, as the private partner, will undertake the design, construction, and financing of the Cavite Extension, as well as the operation and maintenance of the integrated system upon completion of the project.
To recall, former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said that he, along with former Transportation and Communciations Secretary Emilio Joseph "Jun" Abaya, was willing to be run over by a train if the project does not materialize by 2015.
"If I haven't ridden on it by 2015, I will be severely disappointed," Aquino also said in 2012.
Abaya earlier said that the delays were caused by the failure in the project's bidding process under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.
"When the president made that announcement we were still leading up to the bid. No one plans for a failure of bid. We were highly guarding the passenger side, no one showed up at the day of bidding," he said in July 2015.
For his part, then-Communications Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said that Aquino's remarks were not to be taken literally.
"Since the start of pre-construction activities in May 2017, the DOTr and the LRTA immediately proceeded to the gargantuan task of resolving the Right of Way Acquisition (ROWA)," the DOTr said Monday.
"With all these preparations and preconstruction activities accomplished, we are now ready to start the actual construction of the LRT1 Cavite Extension," it elaborated.
Looking ahead, the DOTr said the extension is expected to be partially operational within the next two years.
"We are training our sights on partial operability of the first five stations of the extension line in two years, or by 2021, to give Filipinos the comfortable life they deserve through enhanced mobility and connectivity," it said. — BM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/693485/lrt1-cavite-extension-construction-to-start-tuesday/story/
DoTr still wants private firm to take over MRT-3
THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it will continue to seek a private company to take over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), once the new Japanese contractors finish the rehabilitation of the railway system in two years.
“Long-term and multi-phased ’yung strategy natin for MRT-3.… Phase 3 natin ’yung longer-term natin na operations and maintenance. Meron tayong ongoing review ng unsolicited proposal for the operations and maintenance of MRT-3 [Our strategy for the MRT-3 is long-term and multi-phased…. Phase 3 is the longer-term operations and maintenance of the MRT-3. We have an ongoing review of an unsolicited proposal for this],” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan told reporters last week.
Last Tuesday, the government officially turned over the rehabilitation and maintenance works of the MRT-3 to Japanese firms Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo-MHI) together with TES Philippines, Inc. (TESP).
Mr. Batan said this project is only Phase 2 of the government’s planned approach to improve the MRT-3 system. The last phase would be the entry of a private firm to handle the train line’s O&M — similar to what was done in the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) which is handled by Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).
“The hybrid policy calls for us getting the private sector to operate our existing lines, operate and maintain, and it’s just consistent with that,” he said.
In 2017, a group composed of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), Ayala Group and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. was given original proponent status (OPS) for its O&M proposal for the MRT-3. The three firms had formed LRMC to operate and maintain LRT-1.
Mr. Batan noted the unsolicited proposal of MPIC is still “ongoing review” at the moment.
“Meron lang kasi tayong some legal issues na nire-resolve. As you may know, meron tayong ongoing arbitration for MRT-3, and part ’yan ng mga considerations natin in the timing of the different phases [We just have some legal issues to resolve. As you may know, we have an ongoing arbitration for MRT-3, and that’s part of our considerations in the timing of the different phases],” he said.
In 2009, MRT-3 contractor Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) filed an arbitration case in Singapore alleging the Philippine government of delayed equity rental payments in its signed agreement.
MPIC has control in MRTC through a cooperation agreement signed in 2010.
Mr. Batan noted the review of MPIC’s unsolicited proposal is moving forward in parallel with the settlement of the arbitration case.
MPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Ma. K. Lim said in January the company may need to “reconfigure” its MRT-3 proposal following the entry of the Japanese firms. In February, MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said it may be best to “just wait word from the government.”
https://www.bworldonline.com/dotr-still-wants-private-firm-to-take-over-mrt-3/
“Long-term and multi-phased ’yung strategy natin for MRT-3.… Phase 3 natin ’yung longer-term natin na operations and maintenance. Meron tayong ongoing review ng unsolicited proposal for the operations and maintenance of MRT-3 [Our strategy for the MRT-3 is long-term and multi-phased…. Phase 3 is the longer-term operations and maintenance of the MRT-3. We have an ongoing review of an unsolicited proposal for this],” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan told reporters last week.
Last Tuesday, the government officially turned over the rehabilitation and maintenance works of the MRT-3 to Japanese firms Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo-MHI) together with TES Philippines, Inc. (TESP).
Mr. Batan said this project is only Phase 2 of the government’s planned approach to improve the MRT-3 system. The last phase would be the entry of a private firm to handle the train line’s O&M — similar to what was done in the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) which is handled by Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).
“The hybrid policy calls for us getting the private sector to operate our existing lines, operate and maintain, and it’s just consistent with that,” he said.
In 2017, a group composed of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), Ayala Group and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. was given original proponent status (OPS) for its O&M proposal for the MRT-3. The three firms had formed LRMC to operate and maintain LRT-1.
Mr. Batan noted the unsolicited proposal of MPIC is still “ongoing review” at the moment.
“Meron lang kasi tayong some legal issues na nire-resolve. As you may know, meron tayong ongoing arbitration for MRT-3, and part ’yan ng mga considerations natin in the timing of the different phases [We just have some legal issues to resolve. As you may know, we have an ongoing arbitration for MRT-3, and that’s part of our considerations in the timing of the different phases],” he said.
In 2009, MRT-3 contractor Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) filed an arbitration case in Singapore alleging the Philippine government of delayed equity rental payments in its signed agreement.
MPIC has control in MRTC through a cooperation agreement signed in 2010.
Mr. Batan noted the review of MPIC’s unsolicited proposal is moving forward in parallel with the settlement of the arbitration case.
MPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Ma. K. Lim said in January the company may need to “reconfigure” its MRT-3 proposal following the entry of the Japanese firms. In February, MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said it may be best to “just wait word from the government.”
https://www.bworldonline.com/dotr-still-wants-private-firm-to-take-over-mrt-3/
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