Construction and engineering giant D.M. Consunji Inc. is eyeing to bid for the Light Rail Transit Line 2 West Extension project, which will connect the current line to the Manila North Harbor, once the government opens the project for public tender.
“What the DOTr (Department of Transportation) told me is that it is already being designed and the government will fund it,” DMCI president and chief executive officer Jorge Consunji said.
“They expect the bidding maybe before the year is over, that is their target,” he added.
The LRT-2 West Extension project, which will stretch around three kilometers, will entail the construction of three new stations, namely Tutuban, Divisoria and Pier 4.
Construction of the project is targeted to start in the second quarter of 2020 and completed by the second quarter of 2023.
Consunji said once they bid on the project, it would complement the ongoing construction of the East Extension of LRT-2.
In March, a joint venture between Marubeni Corp. and DMCI bagged the LRT-2 East Extension project.
The P3.2-billion contract with DOTr comprises an electrical and mechanical package for a four-kilometer railway system extension with two additional stations eastwards.
The project adds four kilometers of railway tracks from Santolan in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo.
According to reports, the DOTr said the East Extension project is 61.93 percent complete as of early July.
Marubeni, as consortium leader, will be responsible for overall administration and the procurement of E&M railway systems, while DMCI will be responsible for track-work procurement and construction and the installation of E&M systems.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/08/17/1943990/dmci-eyes-bid-lrt-2-west-extension-project
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Tugade on MRT3 losses in 2018: 'Don't judge DOTr on isolated cases'
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade plans to put 3 Dalian MRT3 trains in operation by the end of the year
"Dapat 'yung Kagawaran ng Transportasyon, huwag n'yong husgahan sa isang sektor ng kagawaran. Huwag n'yo kaming husgahan sa MRT. Huwag mo kaming husgahan sa isolated cases."
(You shouldn't judge the Department of Transportation based on just one sector of the department. Don't judge us on the MRT. Don't judge us on isolated cases.)
This was Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade's response to the 26% decrease in ridership and revenue of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) in 2018.
Tugade commented on the issue during the ceremonial turnover of the operations and management of the Clark International Airport to the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp on Friday, August 16.
According to the annual report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the DOTr, MRT3 passenger ridership and ticket sales were at their lowest in 2018 due to the decrease in train availability.
Some of the findings of the report were as follows:
Tugade reiterated the problem of reduced trains in operation, and added that losses in revenue were because of the increased expenses in maintenance and rehabilitation.
However, COA pointed out that these losses affect not only the public, but government funds as well.
"The cases in point do not only deny the riding public of an efficient, effective, and secured transportation systems but undoubtedly impacted on revenue collections, depriving the government of additional financial resources for payment of the MRT3 equity rentals," the report read.
Aside from equity rental fees, the revenues acquired from passenger fares are used to fund staffing and administrative costs. If the DOTr-MRT3 fails to self-finance these payments, a greater government subsidy would be needed.
Deployment of Dalian trains
Tugade also brought up his plan to bring in more Dalian trains by the end of the year. State auditors also cited the Dalian trains in its report, saying there is a need to address the recommendations of its technical consultant in order for the trains to be operational.
The Dalian trains arrived in 2016 to decongest the railway system, but were not put to use due to incompatibility issues and necessary repairs.
In response, Tugade stated that he is now in talks with Japanese evaluators Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to operate 3 Dalian trains by the end of the year.
They will be put to use gradually, following the consent and approval of Sumitomo and only after trial runs have been conducted.
Test runs of Dalian trains have been conducted after Sumitomo took over as the maintenance provider of the MRT3 in 2018. The most recent test run occurred from January to February 2019.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/237842-tugade-statement-mrt3-losses-2018
"Dapat 'yung Kagawaran ng Transportasyon, huwag n'yong husgahan sa isang sektor ng kagawaran. Huwag n'yo kaming husgahan sa MRT. Huwag mo kaming husgahan sa isolated cases."
(You shouldn't judge the Department of Transportation based on just one sector of the department. Don't judge us on the MRT. Don't judge us on isolated cases.)
This was Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade's response to the 26% decrease in ridership and revenue of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) in 2018.
Tugade commented on the issue during the ceremonial turnover of the operations and management of the Clark International Airport to the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp on Friday, August 16.
According to the annual report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the DOTr, MRT3 passenger ridership and ticket sales were at their lowest in 2018 due to the decrease in train availability.
Some of the findings of the report were as follows:
- Train availability in the past year only had an average of 13 out of 24 trains in operation, in contrast to the number of trains in previous years which was 15 during off-peak hours and 20 during peak hours.
- The decrease in train availability was caused by the termination of the maintenance service contract of Busan Joint Venture, which was in turn taken over by the DOTr-MRT3 Maintenance Transition Team.
- Despite having completed the Independent Safety Audit and Assessment by TUV Rheinland Philippines, the 48 Dalian trains that were to increase train availability remained inoperable for an indefinite period.
- While 2018 saw the lowest number of recorded incidents in the last 4 years in terms of train removals, service interruptions, and passenger unloadings, this was also because of the decrease in train availability.
Tugade reiterated the problem of reduced trains in operation, and added that losses in revenue were because of the increased expenses in maintenance and rehabilitation.
However, COA pointed out that these losses affect not only the public, but government funds as well.
"The cases in point do not only deny the riding public of an efficient, effective, and secured transportation systems but undoubtedly impacted on revenue collections, depriving the government of additional financial resources for payment of the MRT3 equity rentals," the report read.
Aside from equity rental fees, the revenues acquired from passenger fares are used to fund staffing and administrative costs. If the DOTr-MRT3 fails to self-finance these payments, a greater government subsidy would be needed.
Deployment of Dalian trains
Tugade also brought up his plan to bring in more Dalian trains by the end of the year. State auditors also cited the Dalian trains in its report, saying there is a need to address the recommendations of its technical consultant in order for the trains to be operational.
The Dalian trains arrived in 2016 to decongest the railway system, but were not put to use due to incompatibility issues and necessary repairs.
In response, Tugade stated that he is now in talks with Japanese evaluators Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to operate 3 Dalian trains by the end of the year.
They will be put to use gradually, following the consent and approval of Sumitomo and only after trial runs have been conducted.
Test runs of Dalian trains have been conducted after Sumitomo took over as the maintenance provider of the MRT3 in 2018. The most recent test run occurred from January to February 2019.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/237842-tugade-statement-mrt3-losses-2018
LIPAD takes over operations of Clark airport
LUZON International Premier Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) on Friday formally took over the operations and management of the Clark International Airport.
“I tell you LIPAD, paliparin ninyo ang paliparan na ito [flourish this airport]. Make it go, grow, and glow,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said during the turnover ceremony held at the New Passenger Terminal Building of the Clark International Airport.
LIPAD is the special purpose vehicle company formed by the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc., and Changi Airport Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Changi Airports International.
Formerly known as the North Luzon Airport Consortium, LIPAD was awarded the 25-year O&M contract for the Clark airport terminals in January. It will also develop commercial assets, operate and maintain facilities and fit-out of the new terminal.
Bi Yong Chungunco, chief executive officer of LIPAD, said four international airlines will start their operations at the Clark airport in the next few months, in addition to the 17 airlines.
Moreover, six food and beverage outlets will also operate inside the terminal soon.
“We are also in talks with the airline operators for the possible integration of the terminal fee in the airfares as part of our goal to provide a very seamless travel experience,” she said.
“We will continue towards expanding this network, connecting Clark to more domestic and international points, cementing its position as the premier gateway for Central and Northern Luzon…. We look forward to a close collaboration with DoTr (Department of Transportation), and BCDA (Bases Conversion and Development Authority) for the next 25 years,” she added.
Clark International Airport increased its number of passenger by 63% to 2.1 million passengers in the first half of the year. The airport handles 734 weekly flights from 17 airlines. It currently being developed as the alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
https://www.bworldonline.com/lipad-takes-over-operations-of-clark-airport/
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