MRT-7 to open by end-2022

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Friday said the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project is now 54% complete, on track for its opening by the end of 2022.

“We have already completed a significant amount of civil works, including the installation of bored piles, girders, foundational works on stations, and we have been installing rails or tracks. At the same time, E&M works have also advanced significantly,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said in a statement on Friday.

Around 6.2 kilometers (km) of the 13.5-km elevated section is complete, while 4.8 km out of 6.9 km of the at-grade section and 1.5 km of the 1.9 km tunnel section are done. Civil works and electrical/mechanical works are both more than halfway done.

Mr. Ang said that construction of the project connecting Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan continued despite limitations during the lockdown declared to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

“Now that we’ve crossed the halfway mark, we’re expecting to reach a lot of major milestones for this project this year. This includes the construction of the stations, testing of various equipment in different countries, and the actual arrival of these equipment, including the first batch of trains,” he said.

The initial six trains or 18 cars will be tested in South Korea in April.

SMC bought the trains from South Korea Hyundai Rotem, with the national rail manufacturer, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), as its adviser.

If the trains pass the tests, the first batch of trains will arrive within the year. SMC will acquire a total of 36 trains or 108 cars for the MRT-7.

The MRT-7 depot will be capable of holding up to 150 trains for future capacity expansion, if needed, the company said.

Mr. Ang said manufacturing of other important equipment, sourced from various countries, have also been completed.

“Given our progress today, and all the major milestones we’re expecting this year and the next, I think we’re confident we can achieve full, complete operations by December next year, with our first test run scheduled for June next year. By then, I believe we would be recovering already from the impacts of COVID-19. Our economy will be on the way up, and people will be resuming their lives in the next normal. MRT-7 will be ready for them, to help make commutes faster, to boost our economy, and bring growth to more areas,” Mr. Ang said. — Jenina Ibañez

https://www.bworldonline.com/mrt-7-to-open-by-end-2022/

Lalaki arestado sa pagnanakaw ng cellphone sa Malate, Maynila

 Arestado ang isang pedicab driver na suspek sa pagnanakaw ng cellphone ng tindero ng isda Huwebes.

Kinilala siyang si Alfredo Miranda, 30 anyos at residente rin sa San Andres, Malate, Maynila.

Siya ang itinurong nagnakaw sa cellphone na inilapag sa puwesto ng biktima bago matulog.

Nakunan sa CCTV ng Barangay 740 na pabalik-balik sa pwesto ang suspek na tila nagmamanman.

Dahil dito, nakilala ang ang lalaki at naaresto ng awtoridad.

Ayon kay Barangay 740 Chairman Arturo Mariano, Jr., marami nang reklamong pagnanakaw laban sa suspek maging sa mga karatig-barangay.

Kaya hinihikayat nila ang iba pang nabiktima ng suspek na makipag-ugnayan sa mga pulis.

Aminado rin si Miranda sa pagnanakaw at itinuro kung saan niya ibinenta ang cellphone kaya na-rekober pa ito.

Kasong pagnanakaw ang isinampa laban sa kanya.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/lalaki-arestado-sa-pagnanakaw-ng-cellphone-sa-malate-maynila

LOOK: MRT-7 project halfway done, set for December 2022 opening

San Miguel Corp (SMC) said Friday that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) project is halfway completed, and is set to open December 2022.

"Our progress for the MRT-7 project as of January 2021 is at about 54 percent. We have already completed a significant amount of civil works . . . Electrical and mechanical works have also advanced significantly,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

Work done included the installation rails or tracks, as well as bored piles, girders, foundational works on stations.

Construction for elevation requirements and tunnel lengths of the rail are finished, too, Ang added.

He noted that MRT-7 has "more complex" right of way issues than the newly completed Skyway Stage 3, which was also "one of the most difficult" projects for the company.

Once completed, MRT-7 will connect MRT-3 and LRT-1, and can carry passengers from Quezon City to San Jose del Monte city, Bulacan faster.

A total of 36 train sets or 108 train cars are being procured, which will be delivered incrementally. SMC said its depot can hold up to 150 trains for future capacity expansion, if needed.

Factory acceptance testing (FAT) for the initial 6 train sets or 18 cars has been set in April in South Korea.

The testing for ticket vending machines and automatic gates is also expected within the first quarter this year.

“Now that we’ve crossed the halfway mark, we’re expecting to reach a lot of major milestones for this project this year. This includes the construction of the stations, testing of various equipment in different countries, and the actual arrival of these equipment, including the first batch of trains,” Ang said.

SMC said the rail traversing the northern part outside of Metro Manila is seen to spur economic growth in the whole of Bulacan.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/19/21/look-mrt-7-project-halfway-done-set-for-december-2022-opening

Bata inagawan ng cellphone at pinatay sa Pampanga; kambal na suspek, arestado

Arestado ang isang kambal sa pagpatay umano ng isang 4-anyos na bata sa San Fernando, Pampanga. 

Ayon sa mga awtoridad, naiwan ang batang lalaki Martes matapos mag-igib ng tubig ang kaniyang ina, na nag-iwan sa kaniya ng cellphone. Nang balikan ang bata sa lugar nila sa Northville 14, nawawala na ito.

Natagpuan ng pamilya ang bata Miyerkoles ng gabi pero wala na itong buhay. Isinilid ang biktima sa ecobag at itinapon sa talahiban bago natagpuan ito sa tulong ng isang tricycle driver.

“Meron kasing isang tricycle driver na nakakita, siya 'yung nagturo doon sa magulang, na nung Feb. 16 pa nawawala itong bata, nireport nga na nawawala. So nung nalaman nito ng tricycle driver, siya 'yung nagsabi sa mga magulang na may nakita siya, na daladala nitong kambal na ito na plastic bag tas dinala dun sa damuhan tas dun daw itinapon,” ani Police Lt. Col. Soledad Elefanio, ng Police Regional Office 3 public information office.

Itinuro ng tricycle driver ang kambal na si John Mark at John Kevin Salonga, 18, na sumakay sa kanya na kapitbahay pala ng biktima.

“Merong hot pursuit operation dahil dun sa witness na nakakita sa kanila na nagturo sa kanila,” ani Elefanio.

Inamin umano ng kambal na nangangailangan sila ng pera kaya napagdiskitahan nila ang hawak na cellphone ng bata.

“Parang inano nila ng towel yung bata, pero wala pa akong nakukuhang official result ng death certificate ng bata,” ani Elefanio.

Gagamitin umano ng suspek para sa "audition" ang pera na makukuha mula sa cellphone.

Nakakulong na sa San Fernando City Police Station ang mga suspek.

Nasampahan na rin sila ng kasong murder in relation to Republic Act 7610.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/bata-inagawan-ng-cellphone-at-pinatay-sa-pampanga-kambal-na-suspek-arestado