Friday, December 31, 2021
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Thursday, December 16, 2021
MRT-7 partially operational by Q4 of 2022: PRRD
By Azer Parrocha
The national government will ensure that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) will be “partially operational” by the fourth quarter of 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.
Duterte made this remark during a ceremony to unveil the new MRT-7 train sets along Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.
“We can proudly say that this new metric rail transit system which spans more than 24 km from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan is a world-class mode of transportation for the benefit of the people. The project is more than 60 percent complete and we are committed to making it partially operational by [the] 4th quarter of 2022,” he said in his speech.
He noted that the MRT project will provide the public with a “fast, efficient, convenient, safe, and reliable” transportation system that would result in the increased productivity of workers and businesses in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
Duterte said he is also pleased that the MRT-7 is expected to be a pollution-free mode of mass transit for commuters.
“It is also good to know that this new train system will help minimize air pollution as it is a greener and more energy-efficient means of transportation,” he added.
He said the MRT-7 project is proof of his administration’s commitment to delivering long-lasting infrastructure development in the country amid the prevailing health crisis.
"The arrival of the trains and the significant progress made on the MRT-7 project confirm this administration’s strong commitment to pursue critical infrastructure projects even amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Duterte enjoined all government agencies to ensure the prompt implementation and completion of significant government projects while still upholding the transparency, integrity, and accountability in its operation.
“Let us fulfill our promise and commitment to the entire nation to accomplish sustainable projects that will continuously improve the lives of Filipinos even beyond the term of the president,” he said.
He also thanked workers of the officials and workers of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), San Miguel Corp. (SMC), and other partners for their role in making a new milestone possible.
The SMC is the concession-holder for the project and is fully-funding construction of the 24-kilometer mass transit system that links up with the existing MRT-3 and Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) via a common station in North Avenue.
The MRT 7 is a PHP77-billion project that started construction in April 2016. Currently, the project stands at a 62 percent overall progress rate.
A total number of 108 rail cars or 36 train sets were acquired from South Korea that will traverse 14 stations.
It is expected to serve around 300,000 passengers in its first year of operations and will reach up to 850,000 passengers daily on its 12th year.
The MRT-7 is a modern train system that also involves the construction of electric power systems, computer and communications systems, signaling systems, and automatic fare systems, among others.
Once completed, the MRT-7 will significantly cut travel time between North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan from two to three hours to just 35 minutes and will eventually contribute to the reduction of traffic in Metro Manila.
The project also aims to decongest Metro Manila and make the commuting experience of passengers coming in and out of the Metro more convenient and comfortable.
NLEX Corp. partners with Chinese firm for second section of connector project
By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter
NLEX Corp. on Tuesday said it recently signed an agreement with China Road and Bridges Corp. for the civil works contract of the remaining three kilometers of its connector project in Manila.
The project is between the future EspaƱa and Sta. Mesa interchanges, the second section of the eight-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector.
In an e-mailed statement, the company said construction of the remaining three kilometers of the NLEX Connector project is “now underway.”
The entire NLEX Connector “extends the expressway southward from the NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through EspaƱa Blvd., R. Magsaysay Blvd., and eventually connecting to the Skyway Stage 3 within the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.”
The first section of the project, from Caloocan Interchange to EspaƱa Boulevard, is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2022. It is now nearly 60% done, the company said.
“We are committed to provide the necessary right-of-way for this project as we target to complete this segment by end of 2022,” Public Works Secretary Roger G. Mercado said.
The project, which is expected to accommodate around 35,000 motorists, is seen to decongest local roads, as it aims to divert cargo trucks to the elevated expressway. Without a truck ban, the route will be available 24/7, according to the company.
“Upon completion, the NLEX Connector will enable Manila Ports to have a seamless north-south connection and provide further convenience to motorists with the decongestion of major thoroughfares like EDSA and C5,” Mr. Mercado noted.
For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo E. Franco said: “The Metro Pacific Group actively contributes to accelerating infrastructure development in the Philippines.”
“This new elevated expressway hopes to support the country’s economic recovery by helping reduce traffic congestion in the metro and offering those with private cars and commercial vehicles ease of travel,” he added.
Mr. Franco also expects the project to enhance accessibility to international airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.
“[This will] help generate jobs, and stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces in the north and south,” he noted.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Nlex, CRBC ink deal for road project
NLEX Corp. said on Tuesday it has signed an agreement with China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC) for the civil works of the second section of the NLEX Connector, a segment that will run between Espana and Sta. Mesa in Manila.
The company broke ground for the three-kilometer elevated expressway segment on Tuesday.
“We are committed to providing the necessary right-of-way for this project as we target to complete this segment by end of 2022. Upon completion, the NLEX Connector will enable Manila Ports to have a seamless north-south connection and provide further convenience to motorists with the decongestion of major thoroughfares like Edsa and C5,” Public Works Secretary Roger Mercado said.
The entire NLEX Connector, spanning eight kilometers, uses portions of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) right-of-way. It extends the expressway southward from the NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through EspaƱa Blvd., R. Magsaysay Blvd., and eventually connecting to the Skyway Stage 3 within the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
“The Metro Pacific Group actively contributes to accelerating infrastructure development in the Philippines. This new elevated expressway hopes to support the country’s economic recovery by helping reduce traffic congestion in the metro and offering those with private cars and commercial vehicles ease of travel,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. President Rodrigo Franco said.
The project will enhance accessibility to international airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport, help generate jobs, and stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces in the north and south.
Once opened, around 35,000 motorists are expected to traverse this new expressway which runs mostly above the PNR alignment.
“Together with our government partners, we remain steadfast in ramping up this high impact elevated expressway that will benefit the motoring public and nearby communities,” Nlex Corp. President Luigi Bautista said.
He added that the construction of the first five-kilometer section of the project between Caloocan and EspaƱa interchanges continues to progress “with close to 60 percent completion.”
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/12/14/nlex-crbc-ink-deal-for-road-project/
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Monday, December 13, 2021
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Saturday, December 11, 2021
Friday, December 10, 2021
Thursday, December 9, 2021
MRT-LRT Common Station contractor suggests closure of portion of Edsa
The contractor of the Common Station for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) has suggested the temporary closure of a portion of Edsa and the MRT-3 North Avenue Station for the completion of the project.
“As mentioned by [Transportation] Sec. [Arthur] Tugade during an inspection earlier, the request to close a portion of EDSA and the North Avenue Station was communicated to us by the Common Station Contractor, BF Corporation,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran told INQUIRER.net in a text message on Wednesday.
“This suggestion shall be consulted with stakeholders, such as the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and concerned LGUs (local government units) for proper planning, timing, communication and enforcement, and consideration, if deemed necessary,” Libiran said.
She said the contractor would still have to make a formal request.
“That will be a subject for discussion so [there is no] definite scope of closure,” she said.
The Common Station, located between SM North Edsa and Trinoma in Quezon City, will interconnect four rail lines: the Light Rail Transit-1, Metro Rail Transit-3, MRT-7, and Metro Manila Subway.
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
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Thursday, December 2, 2021
Construction of PNR Calamba stations to begin 2022
By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
Construction of the 19 stations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba is set to begin in 2022.
During a site visit at the PNR Balagtas Station, Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John "TJ" Batan said construction works are set to begin as bidding for all nine contracts of the project is "almost complete."
"The first six contracts are already undergoing Asian Development Bank's (ADB) review for concurrence, following which the contracts will be awarded and signed, and construction will very soon be mobilized," Batan said.
The PNR Calamba is a 57-kilometer railway project and is the third and southernmost leg of the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR)--a big-ticket project under the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build program.
In total, he said the NSCR would be composed of 35 stations from Clark, Pampanga passing through the province of Bulacan and the National Capital Region (NCR) to Calamba, Laguna.
By June 2022, he said the number of operational train stations in the country will increase from 61 to 87, while 92 stations will be under construction or have signed contracts.
"The 179 railway stations operational, contracted, and ongoing construction by 2022 is a critical component of the DOTr's railway network expansion program because it is at stations that a railway becomes more accessible to the people," Batan said.
In July, the DOTr said it received a "record-breaking" number of bids for the PNR Calamba both from local and international contractors.
Once underway, the project is expected to provide around 10,000 direct jobs.
DOTr: Bidding for PNR Calamba line contracts ongoing
Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said bidding was ongoing for all construction contracts of the 56-kilometer Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba train line, which would allow new stations to be built as early as 2022.
Batan, who heads the Department of Transportation’s (DOTR) railway division, said all nine contracts for the PNR Calamba, which will link Metro Manila to Laguna, were “almost complete.”
He said the first six contracts of the project were already being reviewed by the Asian Development Bank, which is supporting the project alongside the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“With the first six contracts already ongoing ADB’s review for concurrence, following which the contracts will be awarded and signed and construction will very soon be mobilized,” Batan said on Wednesday (Dec. 1).
“By next year, we will see 19 more stations start construction within the 56 kilometers of PNR Calamba,” he added.
PNR Calamba’s 19 stations will be located across five cities in Metro Manila and six cities in Laguna, the department previously announced.
It will run from Metro Manila starting in Solis Street, Tondo to Calamba, Laguna, cutting the current travel period of four hours to one hour. The DOTr said the project will be fully completed in 2028 and partially operational in 2025.
It is part of the government’s massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), a 148-km network of train lines running from Laguna to Clark in Pampanga province.
Batan provided updates on Wednesday as DOTr officials, led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, inspected the northern section of the NSCR, the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan.
The inspection was held in the railway line’s Bocaue and Balagtas stations in Bulacan.
According to the DOTr, the Balagtas station had an overall progress rate of 23.97 percent while the completion rate at the Bocaue station stood at 23.18 percent.
PNR Clark 1 will have 10 stations and serve the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela, and the municipalities of Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, and Malolos City.
The train system was designed to serve 300,000 passengers per day and will reduce travel time between Tutuban and Malolos from one and a half hours to 35 minutes.
https://business.inquirer.net/335308/dotr-bidding-for-pnr-calamba-line-contracts-ongoing
PNR phase 1 on track for 2022 completion
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday said construction of the Bocaue to Balagtas terminals for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 project is on track to be completed next year.
Tugade, who inspected the progress of the construction of Balagtas and Bocaue stations on Wednesday, said overall project progress rate for the PNR Clark 1 was at 51.30 percent.
"What has been a dream and a promise for more than two decades and four administrations, is finally, definitely happening, only in the time of President Rodrigo Duterte," he said.
"This [progress rate] includes not just the 10 stations but also the viaducts and the girders, and other components of the project," Assistant Secretary Goddess Hope Libiran said.
The two stations are targeted to partially operate by October next year.
Tugade said all 10 stations in the PNR Clark Phase 1 can be completed in less than two years, including the next six stations for the 53-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark International Airport.
The PNR Clark Phase 1 and 2 are part of the three segments of the massive, game-changing mass transport initiative, the PNR North-South Commuter Railway project.
"Once it becomes operational, it will connect the Malolos and Tutuban, resulting in faster, seamless, and comfortable travel for our commuters," Tugade said.
The 38-kilometer phase 1 segment is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It will have 10 stations traversing the cities of Manila, Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, and the municipalities of Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas and Guiguinto and Malolos City in Bulacan.
It is expected to serve 300,000 passengers every day and reduce vehicular travel time between Malolos and Tutuban in Manila from one hour and 30 minutes to only 35 minutes.
An estimated 7,500 jobs were created when the PNR Clark 1 construction rolled out and is expected to open more job opportunities when the mass railway project gets operational, the Transportation department said.
Last week, the first trainset to be used for the 38-km long commuter railway line arrived in the country. A train set with eight cars can carry 2,238 passengers.
The agency is expecting the delivery of 13 total train sets to be used for the Phase 1 segment. The second batch of train sets is scheduled to arrive in the second quarter of 2022.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/02/news/regions/pnr-phase-1-on-track-for-2022-completion/1824370
Construction progress for PNR Clark Phase 1 Balagtas, Bocaue stations exceeds 23%
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
DOTr: Bidding for PNR Calamba line contracts ongoing
Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said bidding was ongoing for all construction contracts of the 56-kilometer Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba train line, which would allow new stations to be built as early as 2022.
Batan, who heads the Department of Transportation’s (DOTR) railway division, said all nine contracts for the PNR Calamba, which will link Metro Manila to Laguna, were “almost complete.”
He said the first six contracts of the project were already being reviewed by the Asian Development Bank, which is supporting the project alongside the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“With the first six contracts already ongoing ADB’s review for concurrence, following which the contracts will be awarded and signed and construction will very soon be mobilized,” Batan said on Wednesday (Dec. 1).
“By next year, we will see 19 more stations start construction within the 56 kilometers of PNR Calamba,” he added.
PNR Calamba’s 19 stations will be located across six cities in Metro Manila and six cities in Laguna, the department previously announced.
It will run from Metro Manila starting in Solis Street, Tondo to Calamba, Laguna, cutting the current travel period of four hours to one hour. The DOTr said the project will be fully completed in 2028 and partially operational in 2025.
It is part of the government’s massive North South Commuter Railway (NSCR), a 148-km network of train lines running from Laguna to Clark in Pampanga province.
Batan provided updates on Wednesday as DOTr officials, led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, inspected the northern section of the NSCR, the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan.
The inspection was held in the railway line’s Bocaue and Balagtas stations in Bulacan.
According to the DOTr, the Balagtas station had an overall progress rate of 23.97 percent while the completion rate at the Bocaue station stood at 23.18 percent.
PNR Clark 1 will have 10 stations and serve the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela, and the municipalities of Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, and Malolos City.
The train system was designed to serve 300,000 passengers per day and will reduce travel time between Tutuban and Malolos from one and a half hours to 35 minutes.
https://business.inquirer.net/335308/dotr-bidding-for-pnr-calamba-line-contracts-ongoing
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
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Tuesday, November 23, 2021
No LRT1 services on Nov. 28, 2021 and Jan. 23 and 30, 2022 —LRMC
The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Monday announced there will be no operations of the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 (LRT1) on three Sundays starting this November until January 2022.
The temporary suspension of LRT1 operations will be implemented on November 28, 2021, and on January 23 and 30, 2022.
This is to give way to the test runs and trial runs of the brand new signaling system.
“We look forward to the many exciting developments lined up for LRT-1 in 2022. The migration to the new signaling system underscores LRMC’s commitment to modernizing the LRT-1 and delivering better service to our customers. We would like to request the understanding of our passengers for this temporary inconvenience, and would like to assure them that this will be beneficial in the long run,” Enrico R. Benipayo, LRMC chief operating officer, said.
The signaling system is used to direct the railway traffic and ensure trains keep clear of each other, the LRMC said.
The company also said the upgrade to the Alstom signaling system is necessary for the use of the 4th Generation train sets on the existing system. The trainsets are set to be used beginning mid-2022.
Commuters were advised to take other means of transport on the three days the LRT1 will temporarily stop operations. —KG, GMA News
Monday, November 22, 2021
Sunday, November 21, 2021
First 8-car trainset for PNR Clark Phase 1 arrives in PH
The Department of Transportation on Sunday announced that the first of the 13 trainsets for the Philippine National Railways' Clark line have arrived in the country.
The trainsets were procured from Japan Transport Engineering Company and Sumitomo Corporation.
The 8-car trainset, which will be used for PNR Clark Phase 1, will undergo customs clearances and will be brought to the Malanday Depot in Valenzuela by December.
DOTr said the trainset has already passed the factory acceptance test in Japan in October before it was delivered to the country.
Another trainset is expected to arrive in the country by the second quarter of 2022.
Once it becomes operational, the PNR Clark Phase 1 will connect Malolos, Bulacan and Tutuban, Manila, reducing the travel time to 30 minutes from the current 1 hour and 30 minutes.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/21/21/first-pnr-clark-trainset-arrives-in-ph
Saturday, November 20, 2021
Friday, November 19, 2021
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
DOTr inks deal with NLEX to erect columns for PNR Clark Phase 2
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has recently inked a deal with privately-led NLEX Corp. for the erection of columns for the second phase of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark project.
In a statement late Tuesday, the DOTr said it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with NLEX, which will be responsible for erecting the columns “in the shoulders and median island” of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway to facilitate the seamless operations of both the expressway and the railway.
“Ang ating MOA ngayon ang tunay na makikinabang dito ay ang milyun-milyong Pilipino—kung saan ang mandato ni Secretary Tugade at DOTr, kasama na ang PNR ay bigyan sila ng maginhawang pamumuhay,” DOTr Undersecretary Giovanni Lopez said.
(“This MOA will help millions of Filipinos, which is part of the government’s mandate to provide a prosperous life.”)
The 53-kilometer PNR Clark Project Phase 2, which forms the second leg of the North-South Commuter Railway, seeks to link cities and municipalities in Central Luzon to Metro Manila.
DOTr has said that PNR Clark Phase 2, once completed, will reduce travel time between Makati City and Clark International Airport to less than two hours. The project’s overall progress stands at 31.21%.
The PNR Clark project is part of the government’s “Build Build Build” Infrastructure Program.
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
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Monday, October 25, 2021
'4th gen' LRT-1 trains arrive in PH
By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
Several new "fourth generation” trains meant to be used for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) have arrived in the Philippines on Monday and are set to go into operation next year.
In an interview, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) president and CEO Juan Alfonso said 12 out of the 30 trains have so far arrived in the country from Mexico and Spain and would undergo testing and commissioning by Spanish engineers.
These trains will be used in the entire LRT-1 line by 2022 and will replace the service’s 40-year-old first-generation trains.
Alfonso said the trains would also ply the soon-to-be-completed Cavite Extension project.
Compared to first-generation trains, the fourth generation trains are more efficient, faster, and PWD-friendly, he added.
In addition to the new trains, he said the LRT-1 is also upgrading its signaling system to reduce its headway, or the wait time between trains, from the current three and a half minutes to two and a half minutes.
“Halos 30 percent mas mabilis siya, 'yung headway between trains (It’s faster by almost 30 percent, the headway between trains),” Alfonso said.
In August, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension was reportedly 60 percent complete and is on track to begin partial operations in the first quarter of 2024.
Composed of eight stations running along an 11.7-kilometer stretch of railway, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension is expected to be completed by 2027.
LRT-1 adds more 4th generation trains
Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1, received its twelfth brand-new 4th Generation (Gen-4) train set at its Baclaran Depot in Pasay on Oct. 25, 2021.
LRT-1’s newest trains will be deployed for revenue use by mid-2022, after undergoing complete safety checks, inspections, plus required test runs with minimum kilometers and acceptance tests.
“Since assuming the operations and management of LRT-1, we have increased the number of trains available to our customers by almost 50% and shortened waiting times,” announced Juan F. Alfonso, LRMC President, and CEO.
“We continue moving forward with our upgrades and fleet modernization, in line with our commitment to service excellence,” he added.
LRMC, together with partners from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Manila Harbor Center Port Services, Inc. (MHCPSI), has been receiving the Gen-4 train sets in batches this year since January.
Each Gen-4 train set consists of 4 light rail vehicles (LRVs) with a total capacity of 1,300 passengers per trip.
A total of 30 train sets (or 120 LRVs) from Spain and Mexico are scheduled for delivery until June 2022 to be used for the existing system and Cavite Extension project of the Light Rail Transit Line 1.
The state-of-the-art passenger train sets measure 106 meters in length and 2.59 meters in width, with maximum design speeds of up to 70 kph.
They have destination signs to inform passengers if the trains are heading north or south.
The driver station inside features a modern design, with a monitor that shows the temperature.
The new trainsets are also PWD-friendly with special areas for wheelchairs.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/25/lrt-1-adds-more-4th-generation-trains/
Sunday, October 24, 2021
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
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Monday, October 18, 2021
New DPWH secretary inspects NLEX Connector
NEWLY installed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Roger Mercado recently inspected the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector to familiarize himself with the construction progress and right-of-way requirements of the project.
With him were DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, DPWH Public-Private Partnership Director Alex Bote, DPWH Project Manager Dave Galang, and NLEX Corporation Vice President for Tollway Development and Engineering Nemesio Castillo.
NLEX Corporation is accelerating the construction of the NLEX Connector as the DPWH remains committed to fast-track the right-of-way delivery so motorists can soon benefit from this high-impact infrastructure that will provide ease of travel and support economic growth.
“This new expressway will greatly benefit the public. We will continue our efforts to deliver the right of way needed for the NLEX Connector as we target to complete this in the first quarter of next year,” Mercado said.
A public-private partnership project between Metro Pacific Tollways led-NLEX Corporation and the DPWH, the NLEX Connector is an 8-kilometer elevated expressway aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and improving mobility within Metro Manila.
Participating in the government’s “Build Build Build” program, NLEX has allotted P23 billion for this massive infrastructure investment.
The first five-kilometer section of the expressway, which is now halfway complete, traverses Caloocan Interchange on C3/5th Avenue to EspaƱa Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila.
The next three-kilometer section spans from EspaƱa Interchange up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
When completed, this new elevated road is expected to serve around 35,000 motorists daily and is seen as a viable 24/7 route for truckers delivering goods between north and south of Metro Manila.
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Saturday, October 16, 2021
Friday, October 15, 2021
New DPWH chief hits ground running, inspects Binondo-Intramuros bridge
A day after he formally assumed the post, the newly installed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Roger Mercado led Friday, Oct. 15, the inspection of the ongoing Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project.
DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, who is in charge of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, assisted Mercado in his first project visit as the new DPWH Chief.
He was also the first Cabinet official to step on the completed deck slab of the two-way, four-lane, basket-handle tied steel arch main bridge.
Mercado said that although reports can be read inside his office or while seated on a vehicle, the best decisions are made if “you really get to know and feel the situation [on] the field.”
The DPWH-UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1, with the contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation, has already accomplished about 82.75 percent of the work for the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project.
“We are almost there and the project is scheduled to be finished early next year,” Mercado said.
He also lauded Sadain’s team for their “excellent job in coming with solutions to project implementation challenges, as well as mitigating the impact of the pandemic to construction activities.”
According to Sadain, the ₱3.39-billion bridge project across the Pasig River is part of the two bridges financed by a government aid grant from the People’s Republic of China.
The other China-granted project was the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge linking Makati and Mandaluyong which was earlier completed and inaugurated by President Duterte.
The new Binondo-Intramuros Bridge is a 680-meter, basket-handle tied steel arch bridge that will soon connect districts of Intramuros (at Solana Street and Riverside Drive) and Binondo (at San Fernando Bridge) in Manila with a viaduct structure over Estero de Binondo.
This new bridge under the Build, Build, Build program funded by Official Development Assistance is expected to cut travel time between Intramuros and Binondo and benefit at least 30,000 vehicles daily.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/15/new-dpwh-chief-hits-ground-running-inspects-binondo-intramuros-bridge/
Acting DPWH chief vows continuity of key infra projects
By Ferdinand Patinio
Acting Secretary Roger Mercado of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) vowed to continue the government’s infrastructure projects as he assumed his new post on Thursday.
Former Secretary Mark Villar handed over the agency's leadership to Mercado during the turnover ceremony at the DPWH Central Office, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.
“I vow to sustain the current momentum in the Department so we can deliver more high-impact projects that will benefit the Filipino people including those living in remote communities," Mercado said in his speech.
"It is an honor to work with the professional men and women of DPWH and to be able to continue to oversee the completion of the Department’s flagship infrastructure programs and projects,” he added.
Mercado was appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the agency's acting chief on Oct. 12, replacing Villar who stepped down to run for senator in the 2022 elections.
Prior to his appointment, Mercado was the representative of the lone district of Southern Leyte. He is also the vice chairperson of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways Committee.
Mercado, a lawyer by profession, is also known for his tourism, environmental protection, and agriculture (TEA) programs in his province.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
30-year nat'l transport infra program hurdles House panel
By Filane Mikee Cervantes
The House Committee on Transportation on Wednesday approved a measure that would adopt a 30-year National Transportation Infrastructure Program to ensure continuity amid changes in leadership.
In his sponsorship remarks, committee chair and principal author Edgar Sarmiento said there is a need for the measure to address the concerns of the aviation, railway, and land sectors, adding that it is only proper to finally have a roadmap for the next 30 years.
“So whatever current programs and projects relevant to aviation, maritime, land sector and railway should go on for us to finally have the needed public transportation the country needs,” Sarmiento said.
House Bill 9468 provides a list of core projects to be implemented between 2023 and 2052.
It may be updated every five years by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), in coordination with the oversight and implementing agencies.
NEDA shall also be primarily responsible for formulating the details of the infrastructure program.
To ensure funding, the NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management shall ensure that the total budget allocation by the government for the program shall be at least 5 percent of the gross domestic product.
For infrastructure projects related to road transport, the bill prioritizes the North Luzon Expressway to Ilocos Region, Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway, Metropolitan Manila Circumferential 5 Southlink Expressway, Metropolitan Cebu Expressway, and Metropolitan Davao Expressway, among others.
For rail and other mass transport, the bill includes the Subic-Clark Railway, Mindanao Rail Network, Metro Manila Subway, Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), EDSA Greenways Project, Intelligent Transport System for Mega Manila and Cebu BRT.
It prioritizes the Mega Manila Airport System, which includes the improved Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Bulacan Airport, and Sangley Airport; as well as the regional airports for Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Kalibo, Bacolod-Silay, New Zamboanga, and Davao.
It also supports alternative modes of transportation such as elevated walkways and bicycle lanes and other support facilities for cyclists.
New DPWH chief, MMDA general manager named
Southern Leyte Lone District Representative Roger Mercado was named as the next Department of Public Works and Highways secretary.
Mercado confirmed this in a message through his Facebook account.
His son, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, also posted on social media that his father already took his oath as the new DPWH head on Wednesday.
The congressman will replace Mark Villar who resigned from the post to file his certificate of candidacy for senator in the May 2022 elections.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also appointed Romando Artes as its new general manager.
He will replace Jojo Garcia who is running for a House seat as Rizal 3rd district representative.
Artes previously served as MMDA’s assistant general manager for finance and administration.
Leyte-based correspondent Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/10/13/New-DPWH-chief-MMDA-general-manager-.html
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Monday, October 11, 2021
PNR Clark trainset to arrive in December
THE first trainset of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark is scheduled to arrive in the country before Christmas, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) stated.
The trainset is set to depart Yokohama, Japan in October after undergoing a series of Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
The DOTr said it is expected to arrive at the Malanday Depot on the first week of December 2021.
Through the FAT, the newly manufactured trainset will undergo verification if it meets its intended purpose, according to the agency.
The trainset also needs to pass through a test if it complies with international standards including the International Standard Office (ISO) and Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS).
The DOTr said the construction of the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban, Metro Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, is on track.
Once completed, the railway is expected to accommodate 300,000 passengers every day.
Aside from this, travel time between Tutuban and Malolos will be cut from more than one hour to only 35 minutes by train.
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Friday, October 8, 2021
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Road transport gets P1-M budget
Of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s proposed P19.8 billion 2022 budget for Road Transport, only P1 million was included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Needless to say, it was a preposterous amount.
“More funds should be allotted for the road sector, P1 million will not suffice,” DOTr Secretary Art Tugade stressed during the Senate Committee on Finance Hearing on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.
He appealed for Senate assistance to increase the budget, especially now in pandemic times.
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For locally funded projects for the road sector, the DOTr proposed P13.2 billion, while foreign-assisted projects (FAPs) amounted to P6.61 billion.
Of the total P13.2 billion for local road projects, the DOTr allotted P10 billion for Service Contracting Program, P1.5 billion for Active Transportation Infrastructure and Related Programs, P800.71 million for PUV Modernization Program , P472.97 million for EDSA Busway Project, P125.91 million for Makati-BGC Greenways, P40 million for the Feasibility Study for Ilocos Norte Transport Hub, P10.71 million for Taguig City Integrated Terminal Exchange and P100 million for the Feasibility Study for Bataan Bus Rapid Transit.
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The agency also proposed counter-part funding for the FAPs such as the EDSA Greenways Project (P243.47 million), Davao High Priority Bus System (P3.59 billion), Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project (P2.47 billion) and the Metro Manila BRT Line Project – Quezon Avenue (P300 million).
Furthermore, “It is not true that DOTr only proposed funding for the rail sector,” Transport Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan clarified. “
“We proposed funding for all of DOTr’s four sectors, including projects in the road, maritime, aviation, and railways sectors,” he elaborated. “It just so happened that most of the funding approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are for railways sector projects.”
While the road sector should be allotted with more budget, the DOTr pushed for more rail projects to close the gap created by decades of compounded under-investment.
The country also needs to catch up with its neighbors in terms of railways infrastructure because the Philippines ranked 119th, at the bottom of 119 countries, which the World Bank surveyed in 2019.
“We need to close the massive infrastructure gap in the rail sector,” Secretary Tugade reiterated.
“Most of the rail projects the DOTr is catching up on implementing were conceptualized, planned, and started decades ago, such as the Mindanao Rail in 1957, the Metro Manila Subway in 1973, the North South Commuter Railway or PNR Clark in 1994, LRT-2 East Extension in 1999, LRT-1 Cavite Extension in 2000, MRT-7 in 2001, and the Common Station in 2006,” Usec. Batan added.
“Cars, jeeps and buses can no longer handle the demand of a dense population,” he argued. “We need higher capacity public mass transport and the highest capacity land-based transport is the rail sector.” A single train set of the North South Commuter Railway at Metro Manila Subway with eight coaches per set is capable of carrying passengers equivalent to what 1,318 cars, 224 jeeps or 64 buses can accommodate.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/01/road-transport-gets-p1-m-budget/
Monday, October 4, 2021
Hitachi Rail asked to submit proposal for Malolos-Tutuban E&M, track works
THE TRANSPORTATION department said it has initiated the process of directly contracting a Japanese supplier for the Japan-funded North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project (Malolos-Tutuban) and hopes to award the contract for the electrical and mechanical (E&M) systems and track works by the end of the year.
“The target is within this quarter,” Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan said in a statement Monday, after a query from BusinessWorld on the timetable for awarding of the contract.
The department issued a “request for proposal” on Aug. 20 addressed to Jorma Oksanen, head of sales and business development at Hitachi Rail STS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Japan’s Hitachi, Ltd.
The department said the procurement method for the contract is “direct contracting” in accordance with the applicable “Guidelines for Procurement” of the Japanese ODA (official development assistance) Loan.
This means that the procurement process is open only to the prospective supplier selected for the project.
Hitachi Rail STS, as the prospective supplier, was instructed to submit its “offer” on Sept. 20 this year accompanied by offer security of ¥1 billion.
Part of the proceeds that the Philippine government received from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the NSCR (Malolos-Tutuban) will be used for the project’s E&M systems and track works contract.
The 38-kilometer first phase of the 148-kilometer NSCR project aims to connect Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila. It is expected to accommodate more than 200,000 commuters daily.
Hitachi, Ltd. announced recently that a Philippine subsidiary has also been tapped to provide elevators and escalators for the NSCR Phase 1 project.
Hitachi Elevator Philippines has been awarded a contract to supply 13 elevators and 26 escalators for the railway project’s Manila, Meycauayan, Marilao, and Bocaue stations.
The company will also deliver eight elevators and 20 escalators for Balagtas, Guiguinto, and Malolos stations. — Arjay L. Balinbin
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Thursday, September 30, 2021
DOTr, Spanish design firm to sign P1.4-B MRT-4 contract
By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
A rail system linking the province of Rizal with the eastern part of Metro Manila is nearing reality as the signing of a contract between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Spain-based design firm IDOM Consulting Engineering, Architecture, SA (IDOM) is set to happen on Friday.
In a Viber message to reporters on Friday, the DOTr said the design contract of the rail project, to be dubbed the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), will have a total cost of around USD28.967 million (around PHP1.4 billion).
The DOTr, in a press release, said IDOM initially received the Notice of Award for the project on Sept. 17.
The firm will be tasked as the “detailed architectural and engineering design consultant” of the project and will prepare the MRT-4’s preliminary design, detailed engineering and tender designs, the loan processing documents, financial and economical assessments, the project/loan safeguards documents, and bidding documents.
“Under the agreement, IDOM is also tasked to determine the proper mode of transportation along the alignment and provide the methodology on ridership validation,” the DOTr said.
The project, to be funded through official development assistance (ODA) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and public-private partnership (PPP), is a proposed mass-transit railway system that will cut across the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and municipalities of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal to address the “massive traffic problem and limited road capacities” in the area.
Once operational, it said the MRT-4 is seen to boost “employment opportunities, livelihood, and business opportunities” in its covered areas.
The project’s design stage, it said, is slated to begin in the last quarter of 2021 while early works for the project are set to begin by the second quarter of 2022.
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Monday, September 27, 2021
NSCR Extension Project starts construction
Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiro joined the Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary Timothy John Batan and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General Ramesh Subramaniam at the joint site inspection for the extension of the ongoing Japan-funded North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project which runs from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban.
Held at the site of Clark International Airport Station in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the September 18 ceremony marked the start of construction for the NSCR Extension Project (NSCR-Ex).
Jointly financed by the ADB and the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), there will be two extension lines to strengthen the Philippines' mass transport network and expand the economic sphere of Metro Manila, alleviating traffic congestion, improving the investment environment, and mitigating the effects of air pollution and climate change. The 51-km north extension will run from Malolos to Clark International Airport, while the 55-km south extension will run from Solis, Manila to Calamba, Laguna.
The project will utilize the Japanese railway system that uses energy-efficient and reliable trains. The technical aspects will also complement the ongoing NSCR Malolos to Tutuban Project that adopts Japanese technology on flood-resilient and anti-seismic design to withstand earthquakes. The Official Development Assistance yen loan of Jica will be allocated for the procurement of rolling stock and railway system as well as consulting services, while the ADB loan funds will be allocated to civil works.
The NSCR-Ex Project is one of the key infrastructure projects supported by Japan under the Philippine government's Build, Build, Build program. The government of Japan has been supporting the Philippines' railway sector for many years now, including the expansion of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Cavite, recently completed extension of LRT Line 2 to Masinag, Antipolo under the Capacity Enhancement of Mass Transit Systems in Metro Manila Project, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation projects, in addition to the Metro Manila Subway.