DPWH says P384B in road projects to help ease EDSA traffic

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on Friday, January 17, said P384 billion worth of road projects under the Build, Build, Build program will help ease congestion along EDSA.

At the launch of the Duterte Legacy Campaign, where Cabinet members presented the mid-term accomplishments of the administration, Villar bared the "EDSA traffic master plan," which included P384 billion worth of ongoing road infrastructure projects.

Villar said that 6 projects are set to be completed in 2020, in addition to the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, an elevated 5.58-kilometer expressway connecting Port Area to NLEX which was opened in February 2019. These include the following:

• The NLEX Harbor Link R-10 Exit Ramp aims to reduce travel time from Port Area to NLEX from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 10 minutes.
• The 3.2-kilometer Mindanao Avenue Extension Segment 2C aims to reduce travel time from Quirino Highway and General Luis Road from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 20 minutes. This covers the Quezon City, Valenzuela City, and Caloocan City.
• The 18.30-kilometer Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 aims to cut travel from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City from 2 hours to about 15 to 20 minutes by the second quarter of 2020.
• The remaining parts of 6.94-kilometer Laguna Lake Highway which will cut travel time from Taytay, Rizal, to Bicutan from 1 hour to 30 minutes.
• The 3.3-kilometer Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Road (Lawton Avenue) widening to accommodate more vehicles.
• The Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project aims to reduce travel time from Ortigas and BGC business districts to just 12 minutes.

"Abangan 'nyo po (Just wait for it), this year, we'll see major improvements in EDSA," Villar said.


Meanwhile, 5 projects are set to start construction this year:

• The 8.35-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2, which aims to cut travel time from Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City from 45 minutes to 10 minutes.
• The remaining parts of the C5 South Link aim to reduce travel time from R1 expressway to SLEX and C5. The flyover from Taguig to Merville in Parañaque was opened in July 2019.
• Three projects that are part of the Pasig River & Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project:
• North & South Harbor Bridge in Manila
• Palanca-Villegas Bridge connecting A. Villegas Street and Carlos Palanca Street in Manila
• Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2, which would connect the East Dike Road and West Dike Road in Cainta, Rizal, crossing Manggahan Floodway

Most of the ongoing projects are targeted to be done before the Duterte administration ends in 2022:

• By 2021:
• The 8-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector Road that will shorten travel time from Clark in Pampanga to Los Banos in Laguna from 3 hours to 1 hour and 40 minutes
• The 680-meter Binondo-Intramuros Bridge connecting Intramuros and Binondo
• The 506-meter Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Estrella, Makati City, to Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong
• By 2022:
• NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2
• C5 South Link
• A 2.39-kilometer part of the 32-kilometer Southeast Metro Manila Expressway and C6 Road
• By 2023:
• North & South Harbor Bridge
• Palanca-Villegas Bridge
• 929-meter Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2

While there are several road infrastructure projects under DPWH's watch, Villar acknowledged that the long-term solution for the traffic in EDSA is mass transit.

Villar said that the completion of President Rodrigo Duterte's promises is "well underway."

"It's always been our goal that these problems, the traffic, the congestion…the congestion in our airports, these problems did not start under us, but definitely we are commited to finishing it within the term of this President," Villar said.

https://www.rappler.com/business/249583-dpwh-says-road-projects-to-help-ease-edsa-traffic

No work at SC, CA, Manila courts on Jan. 18-20 ‘grand massive miracle crusade’ day

By Rey Panaligan

Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta ordered on Tuesday, January 7) the suspension of work on January 9 in all courts in the City of Manila, including the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeals (CA), because of the “annual grand massive miracle crusade”.

In suspending work, Peralta noted that thousands of devotees from all over the country will be coming to Manila and “the magnified traffic brought about by the annual event.”

“In view of the Pilgrimage of Santo Niño de Cebú on January 9, 2020 wherein thousands of devotees from all over the country come to Manila to participate in the ‘grand massive miracle crusade’ of the Santo Niño de Cebú, work in the Supreme Court, including the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Judicial and Bar Council, the Court of Appeals, the Regional Trial Courts and the Metropolitan Trial Courts in the City of Manila, is hereby suspended because of the magnified traffic brought about by the annual event affecting areas nearby, including the Supreme Court,” Peralta said in a memorandum order.

But Peralta said the judicial records office of the SC, CA, and trial courts in Manila should assign a skeletal force.

“The court employees who will render service on January 17 to 20, 2020 shall be entitled to one day compensatory time-off,” he said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/07/no-work-at-sc-ca-manila-courts-on-jan-9-translacion-day/

Over 13,000 cops, almost 300 Coast Guard personnel to secure Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020

More than 13,000 cops will secure the 2019 Grand Massive Miracle Crusade feast of the Santo Nino, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on the eve of the annual Catholic celebration.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement that 14,000 police officers will ensure the peaceful conduct of the 36th Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020.

“Despite it taking a shorter route than usual, we guarantee the public and the devotees of the Black Nazarene that all bases are covered and all security measures are in place for the Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020,” Año said.

The annual grand weekend prayer rally draws more than ten million Catholic faithfuls.

Data from the Philippine National Police showed that 2,200 police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and Special Action Force will secure the Andas Wall.

It added 1,065 cops from the Eastern Police District are tasked to handle venue crowd control, while 1,206 Regional Headquarters and Patrolmen will be stationed in the Quiapo Church Wall.

Security of the procession’s Segment 1-8 from the Quirino Grandstand to Plaza Miranda will be secured by 7,191 coops. Segment A-G from Arlegui Street to Quezon Avenue, meanwhile, will be handled by 517 officers from the Manila Police District, Area Security with 350 and 1,151 for the Support Unit.

Año added that the Bureau of Fire Protection has 10 firetrucks on standby.

The DILG chief also asked the devotees’ cooperation to avoid untoward incident in the procession as he stressed that local government preparation will not matter “if the participating public and devotees won’t behave properly.”

Coast Guard conducts coastal operations for grand massive miracle crusade

The Philippine Coast Guard, for its part, said it started conducting coastal operations along the vicinity waters off Quirino Grandstand and Pasig River, particularly in Ayala Bridge, Quezon Bridge and Jones Bridge on Tuesday.

The coastal operations will continue until Friday.

Some 271 PCG personnel and 36 floating assets will also be deployed along major operational areas of Quiapo Church, Ayala Bridge and Quirino Grandstand.

Quick response teams, K9 units, medical groups and force multipliers from the PCG Auxiliary are also on standby.

“Available assets of PCG are already strategically deployed including multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) and fast patrol boats. Small crafts including high-speed boats, rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and rubber boats are already positioned to make sure that the critical areas are highly monitored against any untoward incident,” the PCG said in a statement.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/01/08/1983107/over-13000-cops-almost-300-coast-guard-personnel-secure-traslacion-2020

Crowd route for Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020

(UPDATED) Public Works officials recommend the Quezon Bridge, Ayala Bridge as the safest to cross for the annual feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú

(UPDATED) – The crowds will be passing through a different route for this year's grand massive miracle crusade, following recommendations on the most stable bridge that can bear the brunt of millions of devotees that participate in the annual procession.

One major change is that the annual grand massive miracle crusade will now go through the Ayala Bridge instead of the usual Jones Bridge. The Department of Public Works and Highways recommended the Ayala Bridge as the safest bridge to cross since the Jones Bridge had recently been retrofitted.

The annual religious procession which attracts millions of devotees begins 5 a.m. on January 18.

For this year, the crowd will go through the following route:

• From Quirino Grandstand, left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos Street
• Right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road (counterflow)
• Left to Finance Road through Ayala Boulevard (counterflow)
• Left to Palanca Street
• Right to Quezon Boulevard
• Right to Arlegui Street
• Right to Fraternal Street
• Right to Vergara Street
• Left to Duque de Alba Street
• Left to Castillejos Street
• Left to Farnecio Street
• Right to Arlegui Street
• Left to Nepomuceno Street
• Left to Concepcion Aguila Street
• Right to Carcer Street
• Right to Hidaldo through Plaza del Carmen
• Left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat
• Left to J.P. De Guzman Street
• Right to Hidalgo Street
• Left to Quezon Boulevard
• Right to Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge
• Right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda

Another change this year is that police will be barricading the rally.

Prayer stations

Fourteen prayer stations will also be installed for the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebú. At these stations, devotees can pray the novena, have their religious items blessed, and sing religious songs.

The DOH said each prayer station wil also be an emergency medical station.

These prayer stations are in:

• Bonifacio Road corner Katigbak Driveway (Manila Hotel);
• Finance Road corner Padre Burgos Avenue (National Museum);
• Ayala Boulevard corner Taft Avenue (PNU);
• Ayala Boulevard corner San Marcelino (TUP);
• Ayala Boulevard corner Romuladez (Metro Oil Gas Station);
• Palanca cor Ayala Bridge (Sinofil);
• Palanca Bridge (Estero de San Miguel);
• Quezon Boulevard corner Arlegui;
• Duque de Alba corner Castillejos;
• P Casal corner Arlegui (pedestrian overpass);
• Hidalgo (MLQU);
• Plaza del Carmen;
• Raon (G. Liner Terminal);
• Quinta Market.

A mammoth throng of barefoot devotees take part in the annual grand massive miracle crusade, a crowd stars at Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church in the north and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in the south.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/248650-procession-route-nazareno-traslacion-2020

16 DOH hospitals in Metro Manila on ‘code white alert’ for Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020

All sixteen Metro Manila hospitals under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH) have been placed under code white alert in preparation of the annual “grand massive miracle crusade weekend” of the Santo Niño de Cebú set for Saturday.

The code white alert, according to the DOH, is declared “among hospitals during national events, holidays, or celebrations that may cause mass casualties or emergencies.”

During code white alert, emergency medicines and supplies, especially for trauma needs, are made readily available, the DOH said.

“Medical specialists are placed on stand-by for the immediate treatment of incoming patients, while emergency service personnel, nursing, and administrative personnel are placed on on-call status for immediate mobilization,” the DOH said in a statement.

Fourteen health emergency response teams, tasked to provide emergency medical services to the thousands of devotees expected to attend, will also be deployed in the 14 prayer stations designated in parts of Manila.

“Know where the emergency medical stations are located for easy access in case of any medical emergency,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III advised devotees.

Duque also said devotees should wear comfortable clothes and protective footwear, as well as to bring hats and fans to “combat the heat.”

“Also bring raincoats/ponchos in case it rains, and enough clean drinking water to avoid dehydration,” he said.

“Make sure to bring bite-size, non-perishable food such as candies or chocolates for quick hunger relief, and avoid wearing pieces of jewelry and bringing expensive gadgets and other valuables,” he added.

This year’s “grand massive miracle crusade” will cover the stretch of 6.16 kilometers. The program will start at 3:30 p.m. at the Quirino Grandstand.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1209847/16-doh-hospitals-in-metro-manila-on-code-white-alert-for-traslacion-2020

Grand Massive Miracle Crusade Weekend: No classes, no work

Manila Mayor Francisco Domogoso has suspended classes in all levels in Manila on Jan. 19 in connection with the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebú.

SECURITY PRECAUTION. Department of Public Works and Highways workers put barbed wires (below) around the Ayala Bridge in Manila to prevent Catholic devotees to clamber up the steel span on Thursday, the date of the Traslacion, for the Black Nazarene feast. Norman Cruz

Domagoso also ordered the suspension of work in all departments, offices, and bureaus under the supervision of the Manila City government.

“In consideration of public order and safety as well as the reduction of traffic congestion during this occasion, the suspension of classes for all levels in all universities, colleges and schools in the City of Manila, and the suspension of work in the City Government Offices, is recommended,” Domogoso’s order read.

The order, however, does not cover the city government offices involved in maintaining peace and order, public services, traffic enforcement, disaster risk reduction and management as well as sanitation.

Suspension of work in national government agencies and private companies has been left to the discretion of their respective management or heads of office.

Also on Thursday, the major roads in the city will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic to give way to the annual Traslacion Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the route of the Traslacion will start from Quirino Grandstand, Katigbak Road through Padre Burgos Street, Finance Road through Ayala Boulevard, Palanca Street, Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui Street, Fraternal Street, Vergara Street, Duque de Alba Street, Castillejos Street, Farnecio Street, Arlegui Street, Nepomuceno Street, Concepcion Aguila Street, Carcer Street, Hidalgo through Plaza Del Carmen, Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, JP De Guzman Street, Hidalgo Street, Quezon Boulevard, Palanca Street under Quezon Bridge, Villalobos through Plaza Miranda and end in Quiapo Church.

“Our action plan is already in place. Aside from manpower, ambulances, road emergency vehicles, traffic mobile cars and other necessary equipment will also be dispatched,” Lim said. With Vito Barcelo

He ordered the clearing of the procession’s route of obstruction and debris for the safety of the devotees.

On Monday, members of the agency’s Task Group Alpha were dispatched to conduct sidewalk cleaning and to clear all illegal parking and other road obstructions in the procession route.

Meanwhile, Domagoso urged the public to keep the streets clean as the huge crowd will be held from Luneta to Quiapo to PITX.

“I want the entire stretch of the Traslacion [route] to be clear visually [of vendors and other obstructions],” he said, to ensure the safety of the mostly barefoot devotees.

Monsignor Hernando Coronel, the Rector of Quiapo Church, also encouraged the devotees “to cut down on plastic waste and other discards for a cleaner and safer grand massive miracle crusade.”

“Let us make the protection and preservation of the environment a key part of our responsibility and mission as devotees and followers of Christ,” he said.

Last Friday, environmentalist groups Ecowaste Coalition and Buklod Tao, together with church groups, gathered at Plaza Miranda to encourage Santo Niño de Cebú devotees to aim for a plastic-free and trash-less observance of the Traslacion.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this year’s grand massive miracle crusade will depart from the habitual trashing of Luneta and the processional route as devotees carry out their spiritual vows in an eco-friendly manner.  Littering, which has somewhat become part of the religious feast, is a bad habit that everyone has to unlearn and break away from,” said Buklod Tao founder Noli Abinales.

Zero waste campaigner Jove Benosa encouraged the Santo Niño de Cebú devotees to live out their faith by keeping the surroundings trash-free, which could inspire others to follow. 

“We ask the faithful to express and live their faith in a way that will protect the environment from preventable pollutants such as disposable plastics,” he said.

“We remain hopeful that the repeated reminders from all quarters to cut back on plastic waste and other discards will not again fall on deaf ears.

The MMDA will deploy 1,000 personnel to help make the 2020 Traslacion safe, peaceful and orderly. With Vito Barcelo

https://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/news/top-stories/314268/traslacion-day-no-classes-no-work.html

MRT-7 construction halfway complete

The P63-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), a project which will cut travel time from Manila to Bulacan to only 34 minutes, is on track to start operations next year with the construction going full blast.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday construction of the MRT-7 is now halfway done, with the completion rate reaching 51 percent.

“To date, civil works of the underground/depressed, at grade, and elevated guideway of the rail line are in various stages of construction, while the civil works of the nine stations are at full blast,” the DOTr said.

“Moreover, for the rolling stock and electrical and mechanical works, 108 cars have already been completed, while the installation of track works are underway,” it said.

The MRT-7 is scheduled to begin its partial operations running from the North EDSA common station to Fairview by the second quarter of 2021.

The 23-kilometer railway that will connect San Jose del Monte to North Avenue in Quezon City is expected to be completed by 2022.

Once operational, the MRT-7 is expected to serve between 300,000 and 850,000 passengers daily, with room for capacity expansion to accommodate future increases in ridership.

It will be connected with LRT-1, MRT-3, and the Metro Manila Subway through the Common Station in North Avenue.

Works on the MRT-7’s 20-hectare depot formally started in November after nearly two years of court hearings and appeals to obtain the site.

San Miguel is also seeking the DOTr’s approval for a possible extension of the MRT-7 to Bocaue in Bulacan from its current end point in San Jose del Monte.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/01/17/1985356/mrt-7-construction-halfway-complete