LRT-2 extension to Antipolo '92 percent complete' : DOTr

The LRT-2 extension to Antipolo is 92 percent complete, the Department of Transportation said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. 

The 4-kilometer extension will add 2 new stations to the LRT-2 line: one in Emerald, Marikina and another in Masinag, Antipolo. 

The DOTr said it is aiming for the new facilities to be fully operational by April 2021. The opening of the two new stations have been delayed several times. 

Construction of the LRT-2 viaduct began in June 2015. 

The government broke ground on the LRT-2 Masinag and Emerald stations in May 2017 and said it aimed to complete the project by August the following year. 

The DOTr then said it expected the LRT-2 East Extension Project to be operational in the first quarter of 2019.

In July last year, the DOTr said it expected to finish construction of the extension by December this year.

Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Authority, which operates the LRT-2, has yet to announce when it would resume operations at the Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas stations. 

Last May, the LRTA said the three stations may resume full operations by September. This was 8 months since a fire shut the stretch of the train line.

The LRTA has said it plans to further extend the LRT-2 by building stations in Tutuban, Divisoria, and Pier 4, Manila. Last year, the LRTA said it was aiming to complete the extension by 2023.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/17/20/lrt-2-extension-to-antipolo-92-percent-complete-dotr

Makati Subway awards construction contract

 MAKATI Subway, a subsidiary of Philippine Infradev Holdings, has awarded a $US 1.21bn contract to China Construction Second Engineering Bureau for the construction of an 8km metro line in the city of Makati, southeast of Metro Manila.

Work on the project is expected to begin as soon as travel restrictions currently in place due to the coronavirus pandemic are lifted. It is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Construction was previously expected to begin by the end of 2019, following an environmental clearance by the Philippines Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), but has since been delayed.

The project will be executed through a public-private partnership (PPP) between Infradev and local government with financial support from Chinese firms Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group and China Harbour Engineering Company.

The Makati City Subway project is estimated to cost around $US 2bn, and will include eight stations, serving around 700,000 passengers per day when it opens.

The line will run from Makati Central fire station, via Jose P Rizal Avenue, to the University of Makati in Taguig, and is intended to connect key points in the city including the central business district, Circuit City, Makati City Hall and Makati Hospital.

The line also includes connections to other transport systems such as Manila’s MRT Line 3, the Pasig River ferry and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway.

The original estimated cost of the project was $US 3.7bn. However, this has since been reduced significantly due to the removal of two stations and a reduction in length following a reassessment of the line’s alignment, as well as favourable soil test results, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The new line is intended to improve connections between districts and key points across Makati, and reduce traffic on the city’s road network, primarily through the central business district.

Makati has an official population of one million residents, but this expands to five million due to the four million workers who commute into the city during the day.

https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/makati-subway-awards-construction-contract/

All flagship infra projects moving forward – NEDA

 All flagship infrastructure projects under the government’s revised list are now either under implementation or will be started next year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

During a hearing of the Senate finance committee yesterday, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua said two have already been completed while 44 are under construction.

Completed were the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project and the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project.

Among those that are under construction are the New Clark City, ICT Capability Development and Management Program, National Broadband Program, North-South Commuter Railway, MRT 7, Line 1 LRT Extension to Cavite, MRT 3 Rehabilitation, LRT 2 East Extension, Bicol International Airport Development Project, Road Transport Information Technology Infrastructure Project Phase I and Unified Grand Central Station.

“All of them are either implementing or will begin next year and they have a budget cover,” Chua told senators.

Meanwhile, 34 projects are in the pre-construction stage. Those that have been approved are under design and detailed engineering, attaining right of way, or are awaiting the actual start of construction.

Being processed for approval, meanwhile, are 24 projects.

The revised list of 104 flagship infrastructure projects is now uploaded on the website of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The list of flagship projects under the government’s ambitious Build Build Build program was revised last year from 75 big-ticket projects to 100 flagship projects that are smaller and more feasible in terms of technology and available financing.

Officials have described the revised list as being an “evolving” list that can be expanded or whittled down.

At the onset of the pandemic, Chua said projects that are ready for implementation and have a maximum impact on economic recovery would be prioritized.

The government is counting on its infrastructure buildup programs to prop up the struggling economy.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/09/18/2043183/all-flagship-infra-projects-moving-forward-neda

MRT deploys record-high 21 trains

For the first time in its 20 years of operation, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) deployed yesterday a record-high 21 trains as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) decided to keep the one-meter distance rule in public transport.

With more trains, MRT-3 operations director Michael Capati said commuters could expect shorter waiting time intervals and increased rider capacity.

“This is a product of the DOTr and MRT-3’s collaboration to improve the rail line’s service for the riding public. We want to keep our commitment to provide passengers with the best service they can experience. As Transportation Secretary (Arthur) Tugade says, we owe it to our passengers,” Capati said in a statement.

The MRT-3, which is undergoing rehabilitation for rail replacement, remains one of the most vital modes of transportation in Metro Manila. It caters to more than 300,000 passengers daily before the pandemic.

The number of commuters allowed on the trains has significantly decreased due to limited capacity in public transportation as a measure against coronavirus infections.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/09/18/2043224/mrt-deploys-record-high-21-trains