LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is 50.61% complete, says DOTR

The Department of Transportation said Monday the construction of LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is now more than halfway to completion. 

The agency said the overall progress rate of the P64.9-billion LRT 1 Cavite Extension Project, funded  by Light Rail Manila Corp., was 50.61 percent as of December 2020. 

“The recent construction activities of this highly anticipated project features the bored piling, pier/portal column works, and the MIA station foundation works, altogether with the launching of PI girder which is the chief horizontal support in the structure made for turn back slots,” the DOTr said. 

It said the accelerated pace of construction also included the expansion of the depot in Baclaran and the building of a new satellite depot at Zapote. 

The 11.7-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension project, which will extend LRT line 1 from Baclaran to Niog, Bacoor in Cavite, is expected to reduce travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor from 1 hour and 10 minutes to 25 minutes.

It is also projected to increase the line’s capacity to serve 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily. 

The agency said that with a mandate to fast track the construction of said project, the partial operation is expected by the end of 2021.

Phase 1 covers 7 km. of the 11-km. LRT-1 Cavite Extension, including the Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asiaworld Station, Ninoy Aquino Station and Dr. Santos Station. 

The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully-operational by 2022. 

LRMC won the bidding for the 11.7-km. Cavite extension project and took over the operation of LRT Line 1 on Sept. 12, 2015.

https://manilastandard.net/business/biz-plus/344722/lrt-1-cavite-extension-project-is-50-61-complete-says-dotr.html

Neda Board extends validity of Japanese funds for LRT projects

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board has allowed a longer period for agencies to avail of Japanese financing for Light Rail Transit (LRT) extension projects.

In a text message last week, Acting Neda Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua confirmed it was among the items recently approved through ad referendum by the members of the Neda Board chaired by President Duterte.

Earlier Neda documents showed the Department of Transportation had sought to extend until November 2023 the validity of the P20.91 billion in official development assistance (ODA) provided by Japan for two LRT projects after lapsing in November last year.

The Japanese-funded Capacity Enhancement of Mass Transit Systems in Metro Manila Project covered some contracts in the construction of the P61.53-billion LRT Line 1 South Extension as well as the P9.76-billion LRT Line 2 East Extension.

In particular, the loan proceeds financed rolling stock procurement and installation of facilities for the LRT lines being extended to the provinces of Cavite down south and Rizal east of Metro Manila.

Both projects are part of the 104 projects in the pipeline of President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program, which also underwent a review in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chua did not disclose the other projects that the Neda Board recently granted its go-ahead, only saying that these would be announced soon.

As of November last year, eight projects funded by the national budget and ODA were pending approval by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee cochaired by Chua and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.The Updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022—the Duterte administration’s medium-term socioeconomic blueprint to ultimately reduce poverty and recover from the socioeconomic ills inflicted by COVID-19—is also awaiting Neda Board approval. INQ

https://business.inquirer.net/315924/neda-board-extends-validity-of-japanese-funds-for-lrt-projects

Bids sought for Manila stations of Malolos-Clark, South Commuter railways

THE Transportation department has started seeking bids for the contract to build the Manila stations of the Malolos-Clark Railway and the South Commuter Railway.

The department said in a posting on its website that it is inviting bidders for the building and civil engineering works for the 1.2-kilometer railway viaduct structure, including an elevated station at Blumentritt Road in the city of Manila, which is part of the Malolos-Clark Railway.

Another contract package on offer is the building and civil engineering works for an approximately 7.9-kilometer railway viaduct structure, including elevated stations at España, Santa Mesa and Paco. This contract package is part of the South Commuter Railway Project.

The department said a pre-bid meeting was held on Jan. 8.

Bids should be delivered to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management on or before 10 a.m., March 4.

Bidders for the Blumentritt contract must have an average annual construction turnover of $100 million and available financial resources amounting to $20 million.

They should also be able to provide a bank security of $4 million.

Bidders for the España, Santa Mesa and Paco contract must have annual construction turnover of $200 million and working capital of $35 million, as well as provide a bank security of $9 million.

The projects are funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and form part of the163-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway Project, “which aims to reduce road congestion in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces,” the ADB said on its website. — Arjay L. Balinbin

https://www.bworldonline.com/bids-sought-for-manila-stations-of-malolos-clark-south-commuter-railways/

MRT-7 advances, expected to be completed by end-2021

San Miguel Corp.’s P69.3-billion mass rail transit linking North Ave. in Quezon City and San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan province is 59.72-percent complete as of December last year, the Department of Transportation said over the weekend.

The department said Metro Rail Transit Line 7, a 22-kilometer rail line which stretches from North Ave. to San Jose Del Monte with 14 stations, would trim down travel time to only 35 minutes from about two to three hours.

“Once operational, the rail line is expected to serve 300,000 to 850,000 passengers daily, with sufficient room for capacity augmentation to accommodate the potential increase of the rail transit’s ridership in the future,” the agency said.

It said the project was expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

MRT-7 is being built by SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. under SMC’s infrastructure subsidiary San Miguel Holdings Inc.

San Miguel tapped Hyundai Rotem and EEI consortium to build the line with stations at North Ave., Quezon Memorial Circle, University Ave., Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Ave., Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala and San Jose del Monte.

San Miguel will also build a depot in San Jose del Monte that will house a control center, administrative offices, warehouse and facilities for train cars.

The company earlier completed Skyway Stage 3 project―a 14.82-km, six-lane elevated expressway that extends the elevated toll road from Buendia to Balintawak and links the South Luzon Expressway to North Luzon Expressway.

San Miguel is also proceeding with the construction of Skyway Stage 4―a 58.09-km road from south of Metro Manila Skyway to Batasan Complex, Quezon City.

Skyway Stage 1is a 9.3-km elevated road from Bicutan to the Makati central business district while Skyway Stage 2 is a 6.86-km expressway that consists of six lanes in the Bicutan-to-Sucat section and four lanes in the Sucat-to-Alabang section, with ramps leading to the South Luzon Expressway.

The conglomerate is also developing the P734-billion Bulacan International Airport project which is targeted to be completed by 2025.

The company operates the South Luzon Expressway, a 36-km toll road from Alabang to Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It also operates the NAIA Expressway Project, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and the STAR Tollway―a 22.16-km toll road from Sto. Tomas to Lipa City, Batangas.

https://manilastandard.net/business/biz-plus/344631/mrt-7-advances-expected-to-be-completed-by-end-2021.html