President Rodrigo Duterte has named outgoing Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino as head of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Wednesday.
Medialdea confirmed the appointment after Duterte tapped PDEA Northern Mindanao head Wilkins Villanueva as the new director general of PDEA.
“Mr. Aquino's nomination as the President/CEO of Clark International Airport Corporation has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte and is now forwarded to the aforesaid corporation's Board of Directors,” the Office of the Executive Secretary said.
A former police official, Aquino served PDEA for more than two years before he was moved to the CIAC.
In a statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque expressed Malacañang’s gratitude to Aquino for his “immense contribution” to the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Roque also said Villanueva is “no stranger to drug law enforcement.”
“He has been working with PDEA for many years before reaching the agency's top position. We therefore believe DG Villanueva will lead PDEA and the fight against illegal drugs to greater heights with professionalism, passion and integrity,” Roque said. —AOL/KBK, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/739956/duterte-names-aaron-aquino-head-of-clark-international-airport-corporation/story/
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
LRTA to reopen 3 LRT-2 stations
The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is planning to reopen three LRT Line 2 stations hit by a fire by September, an official said yesterday.
The LRT-2’s Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas stations were shut down in October 2019 after a fire destroyed a rectifier in the Katipunan area.
During yesterday morning’s Laging Handa briefing, LRTA spokesman Hernando Cabrera said the stations may be reopened in September if they are able to resume and complete the procurement process for the project next month.
“With the timetable that we are able to award (the contracts) within June, they would have July, August, until the end of September to make the temporary power supply system,” Cabrera said in the briefing.
Since last year, the fire left the three stations unusable as repairs were not immediately started.
The three stations’ closure was scheduled for nine months. The other stations, from Recto to Araneta Center, operated normally until the government shut down all modes of public transport as part of a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.
Cabrera also said there would be no fare increase for LRT-1 and LRT-2 once they resume operations.
The Department of Transportation earlier said the LRT-1 will carry 158 passengers per trip or 12 percent of its capacity while the LRT-2 will carry 160 passengers per trip or 10 percent of its capacity.
‘Apprehended’
The National Capital Region Police Office has offered its services to the LRTA. Passengers who defy social distancing and other quarantine protocols or instigate disorder would be “apprehended,” according to NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas.
“We have a plan to deploy 500 personnel in different LRT stations, depending on their request. We will be reasonably strict,” Sinas said.
Simulation
Also yesterday, the NCRPO and the LRTA staged a simulation exercise at the LRT-2’s Recto station to prepare for the enforcement of social distancing once the rail lines resume operations.
At least 500 police trainees, acting as passengers, took a train ride to and from Cubao.
LRTA administrator Reynaldo Berroya appealed to commuters to use the ticket vending machines and allot extra time for their trips since each train will carry a maximum of 160 passengers and only two persons will be allowed in elevators.
Passengers will be provided monobloc chairs while waiting in line.
Security personnel will not frisk passengers, who will not be allowed entry if they fail to wear masks and have their bags inspected. Neil Jayson Servallos, Rey Galupo
Return to operations for 3 LRT-2 stations delayed to September
THE resumption of operations at Santolan, Katipunan, and Anonas stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) was delayed to September due to the pandemic, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said Tuesday.
In a virtual briefing, LRTA Spokesperson Hernando T. Cabrera said the three stations were originally due to return to operations next month, but repairs to the power system were disrupted by the lockdown.
He said the new target is for the procurement of the temporary power supply system to get going by June.
“We hope by June masimulan ulit natin ‘yung (to once more start the) procurement process and award within June. (The contractors will) have until end-September para magawa ‘yung tinatawag na temporary power supply system (to set up the temporary power system),” he said.
The LRTA, which operates LRT-2, halted operations at the three stations after a fire in October.
Meanwhile, the East Extension of the LRT-2 is expected to be completed by December. “By Q1 2021, magagamit na ‘yung mga stations (the stations will be ready for use by the first quarter of 2021),” Mr. Cabrera said, referring to Emerald Station in Marikina City and Masinag Station at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.
The East Extension is expected to add 80,000 passengers to the LRT-2’s current 240,000 daily ridership, which currently connects Recto Avenue in Manila to Santolan station in Marikina.
When completed, travel time from Recto to Masinag is expected to be 40 minutes, as against three hours bus or jeepney, according to the Transportation department.
The consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp. and engineering and construction firm D.M. Consunji, Inc. are in charge of the $62-million East Extension Project.
D.M. Consunji is in charge of the trackwork procurement and construction, as well as the installation of electrical and mechanical systems. — Arjay L. Balinbin
LOOK: It’s training day for PNP, LRT-2 as new normal sets in
As Metro Manila mayors recommend placing the NCR under general quarantine from June 1, the Philippine National Police and the Light Rail Transit Authority simulated Line-2 operations under a new normal on Tuesday.
Clad in a white shirt and jeans, some 500 police trainees played the role of passengers during the exercise, which ran from Recto Station in Manila to Cubao in Quezon City.
Having been shut down for almost 11 weeks, the LRT-2 will operate in a limited capacity once it is opened allowing for only 10% of its passenger load every ride due to physical distancing measures expected to be put in place.
This could prove to be a challenge not only to LRTA management, but to people who regularly use the LRT as their commute will surely take longer than before.
Here are some scenes from the dry run.
Clad in a white shirt and jeans, some 500 police trainees played the role of passengers during the exercise, which ran from Recto Station in Manila to Cubao in Quezon City.
Having been shut down for almost 11 weeks, the LRT-2 will operate in a limited capacity once it is opened allowing for only 10% of its passenger load every ride due to physical distancing measures expected to be put in place.
This could prove to be a challenge not only to LRTA management, but to people who regularly use the LRT as their commute will surely take longer than before.
Here are some scenes from the dry run.
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